HEADACHE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does headache mean? 

• HEADACHE (noun)
  The noun HEADACHE has 2 senses:

1. something or someone that causes anxiety; a source of unhappiness

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

  Familiarity information: HEADACHE used as a noun is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• HEADACHE (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Something or someone that causes anxiety; a source of unhappiness

Classified under:

Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents

Synonyms:

concern; headache; vexation; worry

Context example:

it's a major worry

Hypernyms ("headache" is a kind of...):

negative stimulus (a stimulus with undesirable consequences)

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

bugaboo (a source of concern)

burden; encumbrance; incumbrance; load; onus (an onerous or difficult concern)

business (a rightful concern or responsibility)

Sense 2

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 ("headache" is a kind of...):

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

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

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 

The team discovered CRIA, which has symptoms including fevers, swollen lymph nodes, severe abdominal pain, gastrointestinal problems, headaches and, in some cases, abnormally enlarged spleen and liver.

(Researchers discover new autoinflammatory disease and uncover its biological cause, National Institutes of Health)

Presenting symptoms include headache, vomiting, and neurological manifestations.

(Meningeal Melanocytoma, NCI Thesaurus)

A condition marked by headache, fever, and a stiff neck, which is caused when the meninges (three thin layers of tissue that cover and protect the brain and spinal cord) become irritated.

(Meningeal syndrome, NCI Dictionary)

Symptoms include headache, nausea, and vomiting.

(Medulloepithelioma, NCI Thesaurus)

You could also have flu-like symptoms, headache, and upset stomach.

(Botox, NIH)

Ingestion of benzidine causes cyanosis, headache, mental confusion, nausea and vomiting.

(Benzidine, NCI Thesaurus)

Early manifestations of infection may include fever, headache, fatigue, depression, and a characteristic skin rash called erythema migrans.

(Borrelia Burgdorferi Infection, NCI Thesaurus)

The symptoms of neck stiffness, headache, and photophobia resulting from meningeal irritation.

(Meningismus, NCI Thesaurus)

A disorder characterized by neck stiffness, headache, and photophobia resulting from irritation of the cerebral meninges.

(Meningismus, NCI Thesaurus/CTCAE)

A common, severe type of vascular headache often associated with increased sympathetic activity, resulting in nausea, vomiting, and light sensitivity.

(Migraine, NCI Thesaurus)