headache
Americannoun
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a pain located in the head, as over the eyes, at the temples, or at the base of the skull.
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an annoying or bothersome person, situation, activity, etc.
noun
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Technical name: cephalalgia. pain in the head, caused by dilation of cerebral arteries, muscle contraction, insufficient oxygen in the cerebral blood, reaction to drugs, etc
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informal any cause of worry, difficulty, or annoyance
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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.
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See also cluster headache migraine
Etymology
Origin of headache
before 1000; Middle English; Old English hēafodece. See head, ache
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
An economy that’s growing but not creating jobs is a headache for central bankers trying to track inflation pressures and set interest rates.
From Barron's
An economy that’s growing but not creating jobs is a headache for central bankers trying to track inflation pressures and set interest rates.
From Barron's
The vehicles have to be charged -- a constant headache in a city battling power outages of up to 12 hours a day, due to a lack of fuel for generating stations.
From Barron's
For years, residents and students had repeatedly complained about acrid odors from the site, with many suffering chronic headaches and nosebleeds.
From Los Angeles Times
The North Atlantic Treaty Organization, for all its headaches, remains an anchor for continental stability.
From Barron's
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
