(1) 痉挛，昏厥(sudden attack of an illness that causes violent uncontrolled movements and often unconsciousness) [C]：a～of epilepsy 癫痫病发作;fall down in a～昏倒;be subject to～s 易犯痉挛;

(2) (一阵)发作(sudden attack，sharp attack of a minor disease) [C]：have a～of coughing 一阵咳嗽;Sometimes she had cold/fainting～s. 有时她会患感冒/会昏厥。〖同〗outbreak;

(3) (一阵)大笑(等) (sudden burst of laughter，activity，etc) [C]：burst into a～of laughter/(the) giggle 哈哈大笑起来/咯咯笑起来;(be) in～s of laughter 不由大笑起来;〖同〗burst;

(4) (感情等的)突发(冲动) (sudden burst (of emotion)) [C]：a～of energy/of spring cleaning 一股干劲/一阵大扫除;In a～of fury，he hit his child. 盛怒之下，他打了孩子一顿。〖同〗outburst，explosion，burst;

by fits and starts 一阵阵地：The clock goes by～s and starts. 这只闹钟时走时停。

have/throw a fit 1) 大发脾气：My mother will have a～when she sees what I have done. 等我妈妈知道我做的事情之后，她会大发脾气的。2) 痉挛，昏厥：The dog suddenly had a～. 那条狗突然发生痉挛。

→′fitful adj 间歇的，一阵阵的;′fitfully adv 间歇地，一阵阵地