brain

[ breyn ]

/ breɪn /

noun

Anatomy, Zoology. the part of the central nervous system enclosed in the cranium of humans and other vertebrates, consisting of a soft, convoluted mass of gray and white matter and serving to control and coordinate the mental and physical actions.

Zoology. (in many invertebrates) a part of the nervous system more or less corresponding to the brain of vertebrates.

Sometimes brains. (used with a plural verb) understanding; intellectual power; intelligence.

the brain as the center of thought, understanding, etc.; mind; intellect.

brains, Slang. a member of a group who is regarded as its intellectual leader or planner: The junior partner is the brains of the firm.

Informal. a very intelligent or brilliant person.

Informal.

the controlling or guiding mechanism in a computer, robot, pacemaker, etc.
the part of a computer system for coordination or guidance, as of a missile.

verb (used with object)

to smash the skull of.

Slang. to hit or bang (someone) on the head.

Idioms for brain

beat one's brains out, Informal. to try very hard to understand and work out a problem, remember something, etc.: She beat her brains out studying for the exam.

have something on the brain, to have an obsession; be occupied with: Lately I seem to have food on the brain.

pick someone's brains, to obtain information by questioning another person rather than by seeking it independently: He refused to prepare for the exam but counted on being able to pick his roommate's brains.

Origin of brain

before 1000; Middle English; Old English bræg(e)n, bregen; cognate with Low German brägen, Dutch brein

SYNONYMS FOR brain

3 sense; capacity. See mind.

SEE SYNONYMS FOR brain ON THESAURUS.COM

OTHER WORDS FROM brain

brain·like, adjective su·per·brain, noun

Words nearby brain

brail, braille, braillewriter, braillist, brailowsky, brain, brain candy, brain cell, brain concussion, brain coral, brain damage

Example sentences from the Web for brains

If you read the reactions, she was billed as ‘Beauty and Brains.’

Why Was Bess Myerson the First and Last Jewish Miss America? |Emily Shire |January 7, 2015 |DAILY BEAST
Three films about British brains show the trouble of bringing otherworldly intelligence to the big screen.

Why Can’t Movies Capture Genius? |Clive Irving |December 14, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
Even Tony Hogue and his friend, who was a JF Images booking agent, had trouble wrapping their brains around it.

‘I Saved My Friend From Bill Cosby’ |Lloyd Grove |December 3, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
But both Lauper and the Brains kept on doing new versions over the years.

Greil Marcus Talks About Trying to Unlock Rock and Roll in 10 Songs |Allen Barra |November 17, 2014 |DAILY BEAST

It took a special, meticulous kind of person to accomplish the undertaking, someone with brains, patience, and nerves of steel.

The High Society Bank Robber of the 1800s |J. North Conway |October 19, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
Dumouriez had brains and character, Kellermann character and stolid imperturbability.

Napoleon's Marshals |R. P. Dunn-Pattison
In 1784 he made the first wheeled vehicle impelled by steam in England,—made it with his own hands and brains.

The Queer, the Quaint and the Quizzical |Frank H. Stauffer
Clean it well, take out the brains, rub it with a handful of salt, and two ounces of saltpetre.

The Cook and Housekeeper's Complete and Universal Dictionary; Including a System of Modern Cookery, in all Its Various Branches, |Mary Eaton
As he walks in with a despairing air, the audience shriek with laughter (because he is labelled as comic in their brains).

The Modern Pistol and How to Shoot It |Walter Winans
I am not surprised at Gough liking him; he has a rare gift of brains as well as of pluck!

Twelve Years of a Soldier's Life in India |W. S. R. Hodson

British Dictionary definitions for brains

brain

/ (breɪn) /

noun

the soft convoluted mass of nervous tissue within the skull of vertebrates that is the controlling and coordinating centre of the nervous system and the seat of thought, memory, and emotion. It includes the cerebrum, brainstem, and cerebellum Technical name: encephalon Related adjectives: cerebral, encephalic

the main neural bundle or ganglion of certain invertebrates

(often plural) informal intellectual ability he's got brains

informal shrewdness or cunning

informal an intellectual or intelligent person

(usually plural; functioning as singular) informal a person who plans and organizes an undertaking or is in overall control of an organization, etc

an electronic device, such as a computer, that performs apparently similar functions to the human brain

on the brain constantly in mind I had that song on the brain

pick someone's brain to obtain information or ideas from someone

verb (tr)

to smash the skull of

slang to hit hard on the head

Word Origin for brain

Old English brægen; related to Old Frisian brein, Middle Low German bregen, Greek brekhmos forehead

Medical definitions for brains

brain

[ brān ]

n.

The portion of the central nervous system that is enclosed within the cranium, continuous with the spinal cord, and composed of gray matter and white matter. It is the primary center for the regulation and control of bodily activities, receiving and interpreting sensory impulses, and transmitting information to the muscles and body organs. It is also the seat of consciousness, thought, memory, and emotion. encephalon

Scientific definitions for brains

brain

[ brān ]

The part of the nervous system in vertebrates that is enclosed within the skull, is connected with the spinal cord, and is composed of gray matter and white matter. It is the control center of the central nervous system, receiving sensory impulses from the rest of the body and transmitting motor impulses for the regulation of voluntary movement. The brain also contains the centers of consciousness, thought, language, memory, and emotion. See more at brainstem cerebellum cerebrum.

A bundle of nerves in many invertebrate animals that is similar to the vertebrate brain in function and position.

Cultural definitions for brains

brain

The central organ in the nervous system, protected by the skull. The brain consists of the medulla, which sends signals from the spinal cord to the rest of the brain and also controls the autonomic nervous system; the pons, a mass of nerve fibers connected to the medulla; the cerebellum, which controls balance and coordination; and the cerebrum, the outer layer of which, the cerebral cortex, is the location of memory, sight, speech, and other higher functions.

The cerebrum contains two hemispheres (the left hemisphere and the right hemisphere), each of which controls different functions. In general, the right hemisphere controls the left side of the body and such functions as spatial perception, whereas the left hemisphere controls the right side of the body and functions such as speech.

Under the cerebral cortex are the thalamus, the main relay center between the medulla and the cerebrum; and the hypothalamus, which controls blood pressure, body temperature, hunger, thirst, sex drive, and other visceral functions.

Idioms and Phrases with brains

brain

In addition to the idioms beginning with brain

brain drain
brain someone
brain trust

also see:

beat one's brains out
blow one's brains out
on one's mind (the brain)
pick someone's brains
rack one's brains

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

brain