ache

¹ache

verb \ˈāk\

achedach·ing

Definition of ACHE

intransitive verb

1

a : to suffer a usually dull persistent pain <an aching back> b : to become distressed or disturbed (as with anxiety or regret) <aching with sadness> c : to feel compassion <my heart aches for those poor people>

2

: to experience a painful eagerness or yearning <he is aching to go>

Examples of ACHE

1. Her muscles were aching from shoveling snow.
2. After running the marathon, his body ached for a week.
3. The candy's so sweet that it makes my teeth ache.

Origin of ACHE

Middle English aken, from Old English acan

First Known Use: before 12th century

Related to ACHE

Synonyms: hurt, pain, smart

Related Words: bite, bleed, burn, chafe, cramp, fester, itch, nag, pinch, pound, rack, sting, swell, throb, tingle, twinge; agonize, anguish, suffer; afflict, harrow, torment, torture

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Rhymes with ACHE

bake, brake, break, cake, crake, drake, Drake, fake, flake, hake, jake, lake, make, quake, rake, sake, shake, slake, snake, stake, steak, strake, take, wake