/ wɪns; NAmE / verb
[ v ] wince (at sth) to suddenly make an expression with your face that shows that you are feeling pain or embarrassment :
He winced as a sharp pain shot through his left leg.
I still wince when I think about that stupid thing I said.
► wince noun [ usually sing. ]:
a wince of pain
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WORD ORIGIN
Middle English (originally in the sense kick restlessly from pain or impatience ): from an Anglo-Norman French variant of Old French guenchir turn aside.