/eɪk ||; ek/noun [C,U] a pain that lasts for a long time （持续的）疼痛，痛楚:
to have toothache/earache/stomach-ache 牙痛；耳痛；胃痛 Ache is often used in compounds. In British English it is usually used without ‘a’ or ‘an’ I've got toothache. But we always use ‘a’ with ‘headache ’ I've got a bad headache. In American English, ache is usually used with ‘a’ or ‘an’, especially when talking about a particular attack of pain I have an awful toothache. ache常用于构成复合词；在英国英语中通常不带冠词a或an：I've got toothache.我牙痛。但headache必定与不定冠词a连用：I've got a bad headache.我头痛得厉害。在美国英语中ache通常与a或an连用，尤其是提及某种痛楚发作时：I have an awful toothache.我牙痛得厉害。