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Glite Dictionary
headache powder

headache powder

1 2.8
A powdered medicine you take to ease head pain
  • noun
  • /ˈhɛdˌeɪk ˈpaʊdər/
translation icon : polvo para el dolor de cabeza

Examples

  • I thought, I need some headache powders.

    Fiction book (1999)

  • I found he was putting poison in my headache powders.

    The Women (1939)

  • Whenever I have a headache, I take a headache powder for relief.

  • The doctor recommended using a headache powder to ease my migraine.

  • Make sure to keep some headache powder in your bag for when you're out.

Synonyms

Excedrin
vsheadache powder
  • US
1 5.4

A common name people use for any headache medicine

is a powdered preparation for head pain, not a brand name
aspirin powder
vsheadache powder
2.1

A powder form of aspirin that dissolves quickly in water so it works faster and is easier to swallow

is a powdered mix used for relieving head pain rather than one chemical
Dover's powder
vsheadache powder
  • NSFW
9.9

A powder doctors used in the past to reduce pain and make people sweat

is aimed at relieving head pain specifically rather than causing sweating

Antonyms

nonmedicinal
5.8

Not used to treat illness, often taken for taste or relaxation

Surface Forms

headache powder singular
headache powders plural

Morphology

headache + powder

The meaning 'a powdered medicine taken to relieve headaches' is directly derivable from combining 'headache' (pain in the head) with 'powder' (a fine dry substance) — interpreted as 'a powder for headaches'. This noun–noun purpose/compound pattern is compositional and cross‑linguistically common, so a B1 learner who knows the constituents would readily infer the MWE meaning.

Etymology

Headache powder comes from medicines sold as a fine powder you mix with water to treat a headache; imagine stirring a small packet into a glass and drinking it. Because the powder mixes quickly and gives fast relief, the name means 'a powdered medicine to ease a headache'.