ENGLISH
REFERENCE

aches

n. plural-only
B1 Intermediate US //ˈeɪks// UK //ˈeɪkz// aches

n. continuous, dull pains in your body that are usually not very sharp but last for a long time. You often feel them in your muscles or joints after exercise or when you are sick.

n. continuous, dull, and non-acute physical pains. Often associated with muscular fatigue, viral infections, or chronic conditions.


SIMPLE

I have aches and pains all over after my workout.

CONTEXTUAL

The flu often begins with a high fever followed by deep muscle aches and general exhaustion.

COMPLEX

While sharp pains usually indicate an acute injury, persistent dull aches in the joints may suggest the onset of a more chronic inflammatory condition.

Synonyms
Usage

Commonly used in the plural form 'aches and pains' to describe general physical discomfort.

Pitfall

I have many aches in my headI have a headacheWhile 'ache' is a general term, specific body parts often use compound nouns like 'headache', 'stomachache', or 'backache' instead of the plural noun.

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