headache

[ hed-eyk ]

noun

1. a pain located in the head, as over the eyes, at the temples, or at the base of the skull.
2. an annoying or bothersome person, situation, activity, etc.

headache

/ ˈhɛdˌeɪk /

noun

1. pain in the head, caused by dilation of cerebral arteries, muscle contraction, insufficient oxygen in the cerebral blood, reaction to drugs, etc Technical namecephalalgia
2. informal.
   any cause of worry, difficulty, or annoyance

headache

/ hĕd′āk′ /

1. Pain in the head, caused by stimulation of or pressure to any of various structures of the head, such as tissue covering the cranium, cranial nerves, or blood vessels. Headache can be a primary disorder, as in migraine or cluster headaches , or a common symptom associated with head injury or many illnesses such as acute infection, brain tumor or abscess, eye disorders such as glaucoma, dental disease, and hypertension.
2. See also cluster headache

Word History and Origins

Origin of headache¹

before 1000; Middle English; Old English hēafodece. See head, ache

Example Sentences

Still, no one likes to deal with a sore arm and an annoying headache for an entire day, so you might be tempted to take preventative painkillers before getting the vaccine.

From Popular-Science

Adding to the city’s budget headaches is a ballooning annual pension payment that the city and its mayor have little control over.

From Voice of San Diego

The founders also left to their deputies future and ongoing antitrust headaches, as evidenced by Pichai being called to testify before Congress numerous times since the founders’ departure.

From Washington Post

Despite all the headaches that come with it, homeownership is still the American dream for many.

From TechCrunch

Tiny screens require you to strain your eyes to make out fine details, so you’ll most likely end up with a headache, another common and annoying symptom of gaming sickness.

From Popular-Science

Within days of the first symptom, a headache, the patient was fighting for his life.

From The Daily Beast

Why is such a simple countermeasure against headache and disease still so unpopular?

From The Daily Beast

Severe belly pains, a headache, and fever were the only conclusions Breman could draw.

From The Daily Beast

For novice and fitness-enthusiasts alike, the Amiigo's intelligent pattern recognition alleviates a major headache at the gym.

From The Daily Beast

His headache cured, the man went home and two months later, he was given a clean bill of health.

From The Daily Beast

When the family returned from the court house, Orlean had retired at once, complaining of a headache.

From Project Gutenberg

Another frequent symptom is repeated and constant headache, which, in the present series of cases, existed in 41.1 per cent.

From Project Gutenberg

A tightness took him about the heart, and behind his eyes that pulse of red darkness presaged the beginning of a violent headache.

From Project Gutenberg

The fumes of the tobacco were carried by the air into the house, and brought back Ruth's sick headache.

From Project Gutenberg

To the credit of Germany, I must say there was not a shadow of a headache the next morning.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• dilemma
• hassle
• inconvenience
• trouble
• worry