View synonyms for brain wave

brain wave

[ breyn weyv ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

Usually brain waves. Medicine/Medical. an electrical impulse given off by brain tissue, occurring at a frequency that varies according to mental state or activity, such as the slow waves associated with deep sleep and the fast waves associated with actively engaged thoughts and speech. Compare alpha rhythm ( def ), beta rhythm ( def ), delta rhythm ( def ).
Informal. a sudden idea or inspiration; brainstorm.

brain wave

any of the fluctuations of electrical potential in the brain as represented on an electroencephalogram. They vary in frequency from 1 to 30 hertz See also alpha rhythm beta rhythm delta rhythm

First recorded in 1865–70

Casey Schwartz on the "alpha" brain wave wreaking havoc on your sleep.

Which must have been entirely brain-wave or thought-reading, as Rosalind had said never a word of her anxiety, so far.

Finally as the result of a brain-wave he had requisitioned the local boy scouts.

He just loosed another dry Martini into the undergrowth, and before you could turn round it had flushed quite a brain-wave.

That vision had been a brain-wave between their two linked and sympathetic brains.

It smelled the outpouring of certain glands, tasted a deviant brain wave.

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