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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/
: 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
1 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'.