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Definition of ache verb from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

ache

verb
 
/eɪk/
 
/eɪk/
 [intransitive]
Verb Forms
present simple I / you / we / they ache
 
/eɪk/
 
/eɪk/
he / she / it aches
 
/eɪks/
 
/eɪks/
past simple ached
 
/eɪkt/
 
/eɪkt/
past participle ached
 
/eɪkt/
 
/eɪkt/
-ing form aching
 
/ˈeɪkɪŋ/
 
/ˈeɪkɪŋ/
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  1. to feel a continuous pain that is not severe synonym hurt
    • I'm aching all over.
    • ache from something Her eyes ached from lack of sleep.
    • (figurative) It makes my heart ache (= it makes me sad) to see her suffer.
    Synonyms hurthurtache ▪ burn ▪ sting ▪ tingle ▪ itch ▪ throbThese are all words that can be used when part of your body feels painful.hurt (of part of your body) to feel painful; (of an action) to cause pain:
    • My feet hurt.
    • Ouch! That hurt!
    ache to feel a continuous pain that is not severe:
    • I’m aching all over.
    burn (of part of your body) to feel very hot and painful:
    • Our eyes were burning from the chemicals in the air.
    sting to make somebody feel a sharp burning pain or uncomfortable feeling in part of their body; (of part of your body) to feel this pain:
    • My eyes were stinging from the smoke.
    tingle (of part of your body) to feel as if a lot of small sharp points are pushing into the skin there:
    • The cold air made her face tingle.
    itch to have an uncomfortable feeling on your skin that makes you want to scratch; to make your skin feel like this:
    • I itch all over.
    • Does the rash itch?
    throb (of part of your body) to feel pain as a series of regular beats:
    • His head throbbed painfully.
    Patterns
    • your eyes hurt/​ache/​burn/​sting/​itch
    • your skin hurts/​burns/​stings/​tingles/​itches
    • your flesh hurts/​burns/​stings/​tingles
    • your head hurts/​aches/​throbs
    • your stomach hurts/​aches
    • to really hurt/​ache/​burn/​sting/​tingle/​itch/​throb
    • to hurt/​ache/​sting/​itch badly/​a lot
    • It hurts/​stings/​tingles/​itches.
    Topics Health problemsa2
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb
    • badly
    • really
    • terribly
    • …
    preposition
    • from
    phrases
    • ache all over
    See full entry
  2. (formal) to have a strong desire for somebody/something or to do something synonym long
    • ache for somebody/something I was aching for home.
    • ache to do something He ached to see her.
See ache in the Oxford Advanced American Dictionary
Check pronunciation: ache

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nibble
noun
 
 
From the Topic
Cooking and eating
C2
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