A migraine is an extremely painful headache that makes you feel very ill.
Her mother suffered from migraines.
migraine in British English
(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 (ˈmigrainous)
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
migraine in American English
(ˈmaɪˌgreɪn)
noun
a type of intense, periodically returning headache, usually limited to one side of the head and often accompanied by nausea, visual disorders, etc.