Phrase guide

brain freeze

noun · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

noun

Meaning 1

A pain in the head from eating or drinking something cold; a cold-stimulus headache.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: informal, uncountable, usually

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

Failure to remember something, with the sense that recall is imminent.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: uncountable, usually

Topics: human-sciences, psychology, sciences

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

5 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Finnish: jäätelöpäänsärky — pain in the head from eating or drinking something cold
  • French: gel du cerveau — pain in the head from eating or drinking something cold
  • German: Hirnfrost — pain in the head from eating or drinking something cold
  • German: Kältekopfschmerz — pain in the head from eating or drinking something cold
  • Polish: ból głowy po spożyciu czegoś zimnego — pain in the head from eating or drinking something cold