migraine

[mahy-greyn or, British, mee-] /ˈmaɪ greɪn or, British, ˈmi-/

noun

an extremely severe paroxysmal headache, usually confined to one side of the head and often associated with nausea; hemicrania.

Origin

1325-75; Middle English < Middle French < Late Latin hēmicrānia hemicrania; cf. megrim

Related forms

migrainoid, adjective

migrainous, adjective

Examples from the web for migraine

Budgeting, usually a headache endured annually, has become a chronic migraine for many city governments.
migraine is an inherited neurological condition characterized by severe, often disabling headache pain.
Many primary headaches, particularly migraine or cluster, may closely resemble sinus headache.
migraine is more than a headache: it is intensely painful and has distinct phases.
migraine headaches-- spots of light, halos, or zigzag patterns are common symptoms prior to the start of the headache.
With so much tied to semesters, innovators who adopt open-entry courses may be in for a bureaucratic migraine.
Some migraine sufferers may be at an increased risk for brain lesions, according to the results of a new study.
People cried that new sorts of light would give them migraine and epileptic fits.
So after the night of drunken stupor comes the pain of the following morning's migraine.
Anyone who has experienced a migraine knows how debilitating the pain can be.

British Dictionary definitions for migraine

migraine

/ˈmiːɡreɪn; ˈmaɪ-/

noun

a throbbing headache usually affecting only one side of the head and commonly accompanied by nausea and visual disturbances

Derived Forms

migrainous, adjective

Word Origin

C18: (earlier form, C14 mygramemegrim1): from French, from Late Latin hēmicrānia pain in half of the head, from Greek hēmikrania, from hemi- + kranioncranium

Word Origin and History for migraine

late 14c., megrim, from Old French migraigne (13c.), from vulgar pronunciation of Late Latin hemicrania "pain in one side of the head, headache," from Greek hemikrania, from hemi- "half" + kranion "skull" (see cranium). The Middle English form was re-spelled 1777 on the French model. Related: Migrainous.

migraine in Medicine

migraine mi·graine (mī'grān')
n.
A severe recurring headache, usually affecting only one side of the head, that is characterized by sharp pain and is often accompanied by nausea, vomiting, and visual disturbances. Also called hemicrania, megrim, sick headache.

migraine in Science

migraine

(mī'grān')
A severe recurring headache, usually affecting only one side of the head, that is characterized by sharp, throbbing pain and is often accompanied by nausea, vomiting, sensitivity to light, and visual disturbances. Vasodilation in the brain causes inflammation that results in pain, but the exact cause of migraine is unknown.