ache Definition
ache (āk)
intransitive verb ached, ach′·ing
- to have or give dull, steady pain
- to feel sympathy, pity, etc. (for)
- Informal to yearn or long: with for or an infinitive
Etymology: orig. ake < ME aken < OE acan, akin to LowG äken, to smart & MDu akel, sorrow, shame < IE base *agos-, fault, guilt, sin: sp. ache through confusion with the n.
noun
a dull, continuous pain
Etymology: ME < OE ece, æce < the v.
ache Synonyms
ache Synonyms
ache Usage Examples
Object
- limb: The virus began with a cough, headache, fever, aching limbs.
- muscle: She helped take my mind off aching muscles by giving me lessons in riding down hills at speed.
- loneliness: Synopsis After three long centuries of aching loneliness, Elijah Crawford, Hunter of the Council, has finally found a woman.
- joint: The art of massage therapy Do you ever wish there were a magical oil to squeeze into your aching joints?
- leg: We had a great evening, our group really enjoyed themselves despite the aching legs the next day!
Converse of object
- soothe: It can also be used to help soothe aches ans pains any were on your body.
- relieve: And do treaties and ' final settlements ' , democracy and economic growth relieve the ache left by history and solve all the problems?
- ease: At the end of the day you can always wind down with a Turkish bath to ease the aches of your journey.
Adjective modifier
- muscular: For stiffness, a soak in the bath and some creams for muscular aches are useful.
- dull: That probably explains the dull ache in my lower back that I have all the time!
- rheumatic: Massage ginger oil into sore muscles or rheumatic aches for pain relief.
- nagging: You have much less shortness of breath during your workouts, and that nagging occasional ache in your lower back has somehow disappeared.
- vague: The pain is often associated with a vague deep ache in the limb, sometimes mild tingling, but rarely numbness or weakness.
Preposition: with
sadness: My heart aches with sadness, Tears they often flow, What it meant to lose you, No one will ever know.
Noun used with modifier
- tummy: SB complained of a bit of tummy ache in the night.
- stomach: You may get stomach aches or not sleep properly.
- muscle: Go for the burn, not the muscle ache!
- jaw: Your jaw aches from holding a flashlight in your teeth, well those days are over!
- neck: The symptoms can be wide ranging and may not be limited to just neck ache.
- belly: In this example, the hands are held over the stomach, suggesting that it might have been used for belly aches.
Browse dictionary entries near ache
- ‹ Achates
- ‹ Achaean
- ‹ Achaea
- ‹ ACH
- ‹ acey-deucey
- ‹ acetylsalicylic acid
- ‹ acetylene series
- ‹ acetylene
- ‹ acetylcholine
- ‹ acetylate

