HEADACHE

Pronunciation (US): (GB):

I. (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Something or someone that causes anxiety; a source of unhappiness

Example:

it's a major worry

Synonyms:

concern; headache; vexation; worry

Classified under:

Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents

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

Synonyms:

cephalalgia; head ache; headache

Classified under:

Nouns denoting stable states of affairs

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)

Credits

Context examples:

He said he was all right—just a touch of headache.

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

The alarm-clock went off, jerking Martin out of sleep with a suddenness that would have given headache to one with less splendid constitution.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

You should seek medical care quickly if you have: • A sudden fever • A severe headache • A stiff neck

(Meningitis, NIH: National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke)

Signs and symptoms include fever, headache, muscle pain, enlargement of the lymph nodes and anemia.

(Bartonella Infection, NCI Thesaurus)

Most migraine sufferers know that light can intensify headache pain.

(How Light Boosts Migraine Pain, NIH, US)

Clinical presentation includes headaches, palpitations, chest and abdominal pain, hypertension, fever, and tremor.

(Adrenal Gland Pheochromocytoma, NCI Thesaurus)

Patients with lung infection present with fever, headaches, cough, chest pain and shortness of breath.

(Anthrax, NCI Thesaurus)

Signs and symptoms include hypertension, muscle weakness, shortness of breath, headaches and leg cramps.

(Aortic Coarctation, NCI Thesaurus)

Pheochromocytomas are usually benign (not cancer) but can cause high blood pressure, pounding headaches, heart palpitations, flushing of the face, nausea, and vomiting.

(Adrenal Gland Pheochromocytoma, NCI Dictionary)

Signs and symptoms include fever, joint pain, headache, and significant swelling of the lymph nodes.