Library / English Dictionary

BRAIN

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (noun) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

That part of the central nervous system that includes all the higher nervous centers; enclosed within the skull; continuous with the spinal cord

Synonyms:

brain; encephalon

Classified under:

Nouns denoting body parts

Hypernyms ("brain" is a kind of...):

neural structure (a structure that is part of the nervous system)

Meronyms (parts of "brain"):

circle of Willis (a ring of arteries at the base of the brain)

arteria communicans; communicating artery (any of three arteries in the brain that make up the circle of Willis)

brain cell (a nerve cell in the brain)

neencephalon; neoencephalon (the part of the brain having the most recent phylogenetic origin; the cerebral cortex and related parts)

forebrain; prosencephalon (the anterior portion of the brain; the part of the brain that develops from the anterior part of the neural tube)

mesencephalon; midbrain (the middle portion of the brain)

hindbrain; rhombencephalon (the posterior portion of the brain including cerebellum and brainstem)

brain-stem; brain stem; brainstem (the part of the brain continuous with the spinal cord and comprising the medulla oblongata and pons and midbrain and parts of the hypothalamus)

ventricle (one of four connected cavities in the brain; is continuous with the central canal of the spinal cord and contains cerebrospinal fluid)

Holonyms ("brain" is a part of...):

central nervous system; CNS; systema nervosum centrale (the portion of the vertebrate nervous system consisting of the brain and spinal cord)

caput; head (the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains)

Derivation:

brain (kill by smashing someone's skull)

brain (hit on the head)

Sense 2

Meaning:

That which is responsible for one's thoughts, feelings, and conscious brain functions; the seat of the faculty of reason

Example:

I couldn't get his words out of my head

Synonyms:

brain; head; mind; nous; psyche

Classified under:

Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents

Hypernyms ("brain" is a kind of...):

cognition; knowledge; noesis (the psychological result of perception and learning and reasoning)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "brain"):

noddle (an informal British expression for head or mind)

tabula rasa (a young mind not yet affected by experience (according to John Locke))

ego ((psychoanalysis) the conscious mind)

unconscious; unconscious mind (that part of the mind wherein psychic activity takes place of which the person is unaware)

subconscious; subconscious mind (psychic activity just below the level of awareness)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Mental ability

Example:

he's got plenty of brains but no common sense

Synonyms:

brain; brainpower; learning ability; mental capacity; mentality; wit

Classified under:

Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents

Hypernyms ("brain" is a kind of...):

intelligence (the ability to comprehend; to understand and profit from experience)

Derivation:

brainy (having or marked by unusual and impressive intelligence)

Sense 4

Meaning:

The brain of certain animals used as meat

Classified under:

Nouns denoting foods and drinks

Hypernyms ("brain" is a kind of...):

organs; variety meat (edible viscera of a butchered animal)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "brain"):

calf's brain (the brain of a calf eaten as meat)

Sense 5

Meaning:

Someone who has exceptional intellectual ability and originality

Example:

he's smart but he's no Einstein

Synonyms:

brain; brainiac; Einstein; genius; mastermind

Classified under:

Nouns denoting people

Hypernyms ("brain" is a kind of...):

intellect; intellectual (a person who uses the mind creatively)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "brain"):

prodigy (an unusually gifted or intelligent (young) person; someone whose talents excite wonder and admiration)

Derivation:

brainy (having or marked by unusual and impressive intelligence)

 II. (verb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Kill by smashing someone's skull

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Hypernyms (to "brain" is one way to...):

kill (cause to die; put to death, usually intentionally or knowingly)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

brain (that part of the central nervous system that includes all the higher nervous centers; enclosed within the skull; continuous with the spinal cord)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Hit on the head

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Hypernyms (to "brain" is one way to...):

hit (deal a blow to, either with the hand or with an instrument)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Sentence example:

The fighter managed to brain his opponent

Derivation:

brain (that part of the central nervous system that includes all the higher nervous centers; enclosed within the skull; continuous with the spinal cord)

Credits

 Context examples: 

One other note: I have a Sagittarius friend who had a serious brain surgery this year.

(AstrologyZone.com, by Susan Miller)

However, it is not currently known how or why these brain cells lose function, particularly in the terminal stage of these illnesses.

(New Mechanisms Found of Cell Death in Neurodegenerative Disorders, The Titi Tudorancea Bulletin)

The most common is viral meningitis, which you get when a virus enters the body through the nose or mouth and travels to the brain.

(Meningitis, NIH: National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke)

Inflammation of the coverings of the brain and/or spinal cord, which consist of the PIA MATER; ARACHNOID; and DURA MATER.

(Meningitis, NLM, Medical Subject Headings)

The most common infection is meningitis, which is an inflammation of the thin tissue that surrounds the brain and spinal cord.

(Meningococcal Infections, NIH)

A traumatic brain injury can lead to a mental disorder.

(Mental Disorders, NIH)

An artery that arises from the posterior cerebral artery and supplies the mid brain.

(Mesencephalic Perforating Artery, NCI Thesaurus)

Exposure to high levels can damage the brain and kidneys.

(Mercury, Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry)

A disorder characterized by acute inflammation of the meninges of the brain and/or spinal cord.

(Meningitis, NCI Thesaurus)

Inflammation of the meninges (three thin layers of tissue that cover and protect the brain and spinal cord).

(Meningitis, NCI Dictionary)