genius

[ jeen-yuhs ]
See synonyms for: geniusgeniuses on Thesaurus.com

noun,plural gen·ius·es for 2, 3, 8, gen·i·i [jee-nee-ahy] /ˈdʒi niˌaɪ/ for 6, 7, 9, 10.
  1. an exceptional natural capacity of intellect, especially as shown in creative and original work in science, art, music, etc.: the genius of Mozart.

  2. a person having such capacity.

  1. a person having an extraordinarily high intelligence rating on a psychological test, as an IQ above 140.

  2. natural ability or capacity; strong inclination: a special genius for leadership.

  3. distinctive character or spirit, as of a nation, period, or language.

  4. the guardian spirit of a place, institution, etc.

  5. either of two mutually opposed spirits, one good and the other evil, supposed to attend a person throughout life.

  6. a person who strongly influences for good or ill the character, conduct, or destiny of a person, place, or thing: Rasputin, the evil genius of Russian politics.

  7. Islamic Mythology. jinn; genie.

Origin of genius

1
First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Latin: “tutelary deity or genius of a person”; cf. genus

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Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

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British Dictionary definitions for genius

genius

/ (ˈdʒiːnɪəs, -njəs) /


nounplural -uses or for senses 5, 6 genii (ˈdʒiːnɪˌaɪ)
  1. a person with exceptional ability, esp of a highly original kind

  2. such ability or capacity: Mozart's musical genius

  1. the distinctive spirit or creative nature of a nation, era, language, etc

  2. a person considered as exerting great influence of a certain sort: an evil genius

  3. Roman myth

    • the guiding spirit who attends a person from birth to death

    • the guardian spirit of a place, group of people, or institution

  4. Arabian myth (usually plural) a demon; jinn

Origin of genius

1
C16: from Latin, from gignere to beget

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012