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brains

 - 8 dictionary results
The brain.
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brain

  [breyn]
Use brains in a Sentence
–noun
1. 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.
2. Zoology. (in many invertebrates) a part of the nervous system more or less corresponding to the brain of vertebrates.
3. Sometimes, brains. (used with a plural verb) understanding; intellectual power; intelligence.
4. the brain as the center of thought, understanding, etc.; mind; intellect.
5. 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.
6. Informal. a very intelligent or brilliant person.
7. Informal.
a. the controlling or guiding mechanism in a computer, robot, pacemaker, etc.
b. the part of a computer system for coordination or guidance, as of a missile.
–verb (used with object)
8. to smash the skull of.
9. Slang. to hit or bang (someone) on the head.
—Idioms
10. 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.
11. have something on the brain, to have an obsession; be occupied with: Lately I seem to have food on the brain.
12. 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:
bef. 1000; ME; OE bræg(e)n, bregen; c. LG brägen, D brein

Related forms:
brainlike, adjective

Synonyms:
3. sense; capacity. See mind.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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The brain.
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brain   (brān)   


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n.  

    1. The portion of the vertebrate 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.

    2. A functionally similar portion of the invertebrate nervous system.

    3. Intellectual ability; mind: a dull brain; a quick brain.

    4. Intellectual power; intelligence. Often used in the plural: has brains and good looks. See Synonyms at mind.

    1. Intellectual ability; mind: a dull brain; a quick brain.

    2. Intellectual power; intelligence. Often used in the plural: has brains and good looks. See Synonyms at mind.

  3. A highly intelligent person.

  4. The primary director or planner, as of an organization or movement. Often used in the plural.

  5. The control center, as of a ship, aircraft, or spacecraft.

tr.v.   brained, brain·ing, brains Slang

  1. To smash in the skull of.

  2. To hit on the head.


[Middle English, from Old English brægen.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Cultural Dictionary

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.

The American Heritage® New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition
Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Slang Dictionary
brain

  1. n.
    a good student; a very intelligent person. (See also brains.) : I'm no brain, but I get good grades.
  2. tv.
    to hit someone (in the head). : I ought to brain you for that!
Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions by Richard A. Spears.Fourth Edition.
Copyright 2007. Published by McGraw Hill.
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brains

  1. n.
    the person(s) in charge of thinking something through. : John is not what I would call the brains of the gang.
Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions by Richard A. Spears.Fourth Edition.
Copyright 2007. Published by McGraw Hill.
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Word Origin & History

brain 
O.E. brægen, from P.Gmc. *bragnam, from PIE base *mregh-m(n)o- "skull, brain" (cf. Gk. brekhmos "front part of the skull"). The custom of using the plural to refer to the substance (literal or figurative), as opposed to the organ, dates from 16c. Fig. sense of "intellectual power" is from 1393; meaning "a clever person" is first recorded 1914. Brainstorm "brilliant idea, mental excitement" is 1849; verb is from 1920s; brainsick (1483) meant "mad, addled." Brain-dead is from 1976; brain teaser is from 1923. Brainwashing is 1950, a literal translation of Chinese xi nao. Though it had been occasionally used since early 1900s, brain trust became current 1933, in ref. to the intellectuals gathered by U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt as advisors.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Medical Dictionary

Main Entry: brain
Pronunciation: 'brAn
Function: noun
1 : the portion of the vertebrate central nervous system that constitutes the organ of thoughtand neural coordination, includes all the higher nervous centers receiving stimuli from the sense organs and interpreting and correlating them to formulate the motor impulses, is made up of neurons andsupporting and nutritive structures, is enclosed within the skull, and is continuous with the spinal cord through the foramen magnum
2 : a nervous center in invertebratescomparable in position and function to the vertebrate brain
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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Medical Dictionary

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. Also called encephalon.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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