HEAD ACHE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does head ache mean? 

• HEAD ACHE (noun)
  The noun HEAD ACHE has 1 sense:

1. pain in the head caused by dilation of cerebral arteries or muscle contractions or a reaction to drugs

  Familiarity information: HEAD ACHE used as a noun is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• HEAD ACHE (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Pain in the head caused by dilation of cerebral arteries or muscle contractions or a reaction to drugs

Classified under:

Nouns denoting stable states of affairs

Synonyms:

cephalalgia; head ache; headache

Hypernyms ("head ache" is a kind of...):

ache; aching (a dull persistent (usually moderately intense) pain)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "head ache"):

cluster headache; histamine headache (a painful recurring headache associated with the release of histamine from cells)

hemicrania; megrim; migraine; sick headache (a severe recurring vascular headache; occurs more frequently in women than men)

sick headache (a headache accompanied by nausea)

sinus headache (a headache resulting from congestion or infection in the paranasal sinuses)

tension headache (a headache located at the back of the head; usually caused by body tension resulting from overwork or psychological stress)

 Context examples 

Dora would look up hopelessly, and reply, “They won't come right. They make my head ache so. And they won't do anything I want!”

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

"My head aches and I'm tired, so I thought maybe some of you would go," said Beth.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

“What!” cried Edmund; “has she been walking as well as cutting roses; walking across the hot park to your house, and doing it twice, ma'am? No wonder her head aches.”

(Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen)

But the cookery-book made Dora's head ache, and the figures made her cry.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)