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. 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

2. informal,  any cause of worry, difficulty, or annoyance

headache

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 migraine

Word History and Origins

Origin of headache¹

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

Example Sentences

He developed chronic headaches, began stuttering, suffered severe tremors and would regularly collapse in public and be helped home by strangers.

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Regular homeowners who can’t sell their properties are renting them out instead, and the growing number of “accidental landlords” is a headache for pros.

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Corporate executives for years have fretted about the time, costs and headaches associated with quarterly financial reports.

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That, in turn, is creating headaches for the Wall Street ecosystem that has extended credit to these companies.

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The daily fix is all that’s keeping millions from a throbbing headache and foul mood.

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Related Words

• dilemma 
• hassle 
• inconvenience 
• trouble 
• worry