headache
that trip was nothing but a long headache
A pain you feel inside your head
I've got a severe headache.
Oxford Essential Dictionary
headache
noun
a pain in your head:
I've got a headache.
Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
headache
head‧ache /ˈhedeɪk/ BrE AmE noun [countable]
1. a pain in your head:
If you have a headache, you should take some aspirin.
2. informal a problem that is difficult or annoying to deal with:
Security is a big headache for airline operators.
—headachy adjective:
a headachy feeling
• • •
GRAMMAR
Headache is a countable noun:
▪ I had a headache (NOT I had headache).
• • •
COLLOCATIONS
■ adjectives
▪ bad/terrible/severe I’ve got a really bad headache.
▪ a splitting headache (=a very bad headache) The next day he woke up with a splitting headache.
▪ a throbbing/pounding/blinding headache (=a very bad headache) He had a throbbing headache, behind his nose and his eyes.
▪ a slight headache (also a bit of a headache spoken) (=one that is not very serious ) I’d rather stay at home – I’ve got a bit of a headache.
■ verbs
▪ have a headache (also have got a headache spoken) She’s not coming – she says she’s got a headache.
▪ get headaches/suffer from headaches (=regularly have a headache) He often gets headaches at school.
▪ give somebody a headache The music was starting to give him a headache.
▪ cause headaches The drug can cause headaches.
▪ complain of a headache (=say that you have a headache) Your child may complain of headaches or problems seeing the blackboard.
▪ a headache goes away (=it stops) I'd like to lie down for a bit to make my headache go away,
■ COMMON ERRORS
► Do not say 'a strong/heavy headache'. Say a bad headache.
Do not say 'a little headache'. Say a slight headache or a bit of a headache.
• • •
THESAURUS
▪ headache a pain in your head: Looking at a computer for a long time can give you a headache.
▪ hangover a headache and feeling of sickness that you get the day after you have drunk too much alcohol: The next day I had a terrible hangover.
▪ migraine /ˈmiːɡreɪn, ˈmaɪ- $ ˈmaɪ-/ a very bad headache, which makes you feel sick and have difficulty seeing: He has suffered from migraines all his life.
Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary
headache
head·ache [headache headaches] [ˈhedeɪk] [ˈhedeɪk] noun
1. a continuous pain in the head
• to suffer from headaches
• Red wine gives me a headache.
• I have a splitting headache (= a very bad one).
• a tension headache
2. (informal) a person or thing that causes worry or trouble
• The real headache will be getting the bank to lend you the money.
Collocations:
Illnesses
Becoming ill
catch a cold/an infectious disease/the flu/(BrE) flu/pneumonia/a virus/(informal) a bug
get (BrE) ill/(NAmE) sick/a disease/AIDS/breast cancer/a cold/the flu/(BrE) flu/a migraine
come down with a cold/the flu/(BrE) flu
contract a deadly disease/a serious illness/HIV/AIDS
be infected with a virus/a parasite/HIV
develop cancer/diabetes/a rash/an ulcer/symptoms of hepatitis
have a heart attack/a stroke
provoke/trigger/produce an allergic reaction
block/burst/rupture a blood vessel
damage/sever a nerve/an artery/a tendon
Being ill
feel (BrE) ill/sick/nauseous/queasy
be running (BrE) a temperature/(NAmE) a fever
have a head cold/diabetes/heart disease/lung cancer/a headache/(BrE) a high temperature/(NAmE) a fever
suffer from asthma/malnutrition/frequent headaches/bouts of depression/a mental disorder
be laid up with/ (BrE) be in bed with a cold/the flu/(BrE) flu/a migraine
nurse a cold/a headache/a hangover
battle/fight cancer/depression/addiction/alcoholism
Treatments
examine a patient
diagnose a condition/disease/disorder
be diagnosed with cancer/diabetes/schizophrenia
prescribe/be given/be on/take drugs/medicine/medication/pills/painkillers/antibiotics
treat sb for cancer/depression/shock
have/undergo an examination/an operation/surgery/a kidney transplant/therapy/chemotherapy/treatment for cancer
have/be given an injection/(BrE) a flu jab/(NAmE) a flu shot/a blood transfusion/a scan/an X-ray
cure a disease/an ailment/cancer/a headache/a patient
prevent the spread of disease/further outbreaks/damage to the lungs
be vaccinated against the flu/(BrE) flu/the measles/(BrE) measles/polio/smallpox
enhance/boost/confer/build immunity to a disease
Example Bank:
• He developed a severe migraine headache.
• I have a splitting headache.
• I've got a splitting headache.
• She had left the party early, pleading a headache.
• The workers had complained of headaches and nausea.
• These regulations have created major headaches for many businesses.
• Uneven cash flow proved to be a major headache for the company.
• We all get headaches from time to time.
Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary
Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary - 4th Edition
headache / ˈhed.eɪk / noun [ C ] (PAIN)
A2 a pain you feel inside your head:
I've got a splitting (= severe) headache.
headache / ˈhed.eɪk / noun [ C ] (DIFFICULTY)
something that causes you great difficulty and worry:
Finding a babysitter for Saturday evening will be a major headache.
© Cambridge University Press 2013
Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s English Dictionary
headache
head·ache [headache headaches] [ˈhedeɪk] [ˈhedeɪk] noun
1. a continuous pain in the head
• to suffer from headaches
• Red wine gives me a headache.
• I have a splitting headache (= a very bad one).
• a tension headache
2. (informal) a person or thing that causes worry or trouble
• The real headache will be getting the bank to lend you the money.
Collocations:
Illnesses
Becoming ill
catch a cold/an infectious disease/the flu/(BrE) flu/pneumonia/a virus/(informal) a bug
get (BrE) ill/(NAmE) sick/a disease/AIDS/breast cancer/a cold/the flu/(BrE) flu/a migraine
come down with a cold/the flu/(BrE) flu
contract a deadly disease/a serious illness/HIV/AIDS
be infected with a virus/a parasite/HIV
develop cancer/diabetes/a rash/an ulcer/symptoms of hepatitis
have a heart attack/a stroke
provoke/trigger/produce an allergic reaction
block/burst/rupture a blood vessel
damage/sever a nerve/an artery/a tendon
Being ill
feel (BrE) ill/sick/nauseous/queasy
be running (BrE) a temperature/(NAmE) a fever
have a head cold/diabetes/heart disease/lung cancer/a headache/(BrE) a high temperature/(NAmE) a fever
suffer from asthma/malnutrition/frequent headaches/bouts of depression/a mental disorder
be laid up with/ (BrE) be in bed with a cold/the flu/(BrE) flu/a migraine
nurse a cold/a headache/a hangover
battle/fight cancer/depression/addiction/alcoholism
Treatments
examine a patient
diagnose a condition/disease/disorder
be diagnosed with cancer/diabetes/schizophrenia
prescribe/be given/be on/take drugs/medicine/medication/pills/painkillers/antibiotics
treat sb for cancer/depression/shock
have/undergo an examination/an operation/surgery/a kidney transplant/therapy/chemotherapy/treatment for cancer
have/be given an injection/(BrE) a flu jab/(NAmE) a flu shot/a blood transfusion/a scan/an X-ray
cure a disease/an ailment/cancer/a headache/a patient
prevent the spread of disease/further outbreaks/damage to the lungs
be vaccinated against the flu/(BrE) flu/the measles/(BrE) measles/polio/smallpox
enhance/boost/confer/build immunity to a disease
Example Bank:
• He developed a severe migraine headache.
• I have a splitting headache.
• I've got a splitting headache.
• She had left the party early, pleading a headache.
• The workers had complained of headaches and nausea.
• These regulations have created major headaches for many businesses.
• Uneven cash flow proved to be a major headache for the company.
• We all get headaches from time to time.
Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary
headache
head·ache /ˈhɛdˌeɪk/ noun, pl -aches
1 : an ache or pain in the head
[count]
• I'm starting to get a headache.
[noncount]
• The symptoms include fever and headache.
- see also splitting headache
2 [count] : a difficult or annoying situation or problem
• The city's biggest headache is traffic.
• Managing your finances can be a real headache.
- head·achy /ˈhɛdˌeɪki/ adj [more ~; most ~]
• I was feeling tired and headachy.
