Definitions for brain
breɪnbrain

Princeton's WordNet(4.00 / 1 vote)Rate this definition:

1. brain, encephalon(noun)

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

2. brain, brainpower, learning ability, mental capacity, mentality, wit(noun)

   mental ability

   "he's got plenty of brains but no common sense"

3. mind, head, brain, psyche, nous(noun)

   that which is responsible for one's thoughts and feelings; the seat of the faculty of reason

   "his mind wandered"; "I couldn't get his words out of my head"

4. genius, mastermind, brain, brainiac, Einstein(noun)

   someone who has exceptional intellectual ability and originality

   "Mozart was a child genius"; "he's smart but he's no Einstein"

5. brain(verb)

   the brain of certain animals used as meat

6. brain(verb)

   hit on the head

7. brain(verb)

   kill by smashing someone's skull

Wiktionary(4.50 / 2 votes)Rate this definition:

1. brain(Noun)

   The control center of the central nervous system of an animal located in the skull which is responsible for perception, cognition, attention, memory, emotion, and action.

2. brain(Noun)

   An intelligent person.

   He was a total brain.

3. brain(Noun)

   A person who provides the intelligence required for something.

   He is the brains behind the scheme.

4. brain(Noun)

   Intellect.

   He has a lot of brains.

5. brain(Noun)

   By analogy with a human brain, the part of a machine or computer that performs calculations.

   The computer's brain is capable of millions of calculations a second.

6. brain(Verb)

   To strike (someone) on the head.

7. brain(Verb)

   To kill (a person) by smashing that person's skull.

Origin: From brain, from brægen, from bragnan, from mreghmno-, from mreK-. Cognate with braine, brane, brayen, brein, West Frisian brein, Dutch brein, Brägen, βρεχμος.

Webster Dictionary(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Brain(noun)

   the whitish mass of soft matter (the center of the nervous system, and the seat of consciousness and volition) which is inclosed in the cartilaginous or bony cranium of vertebrate animals. It is simply the anterior termination of the spinal cord, and is developed from three embryonic vesicles, whose cavities are connected with the central canal of the cord; the cavities of the vesicles become the central cavities, or ventricles, and the walls thicken unequally and become the three segments, the fore-, mid-, and hind-brain

2. Brain(noun)

   the anterior or cephalic ganglion in insects and other invertebrates

3. Brain(noun)

   the organ or seat of intellect; hence, the understanding

4. Brain(noun)

   the affections; fancy; imagination

5. Brain(verb)

   to dash out the brains of; to kill by beating out the brains. Hence, Fig.: To destroy; to put an end to; to defeat

6. Brain(verb)

   to conceive; to understand

Freebase(1.00 / 1 vote)Rate this definition:

1. Brain

   The brain is the center of the nervous system in all vertebrate and most invertebrate animals—only a few invertebrates such as sponges, jellyfish, adult sea squirts and starfish do not have one, even if diffuse neural tissue is present. It is located in the head, usually close to the primary sensory organs for such senses as vision, hearing, balance, taste, and smell. The brain of a vertebrate is the most complex organ of its body. In a typical human the cerebral cortex is estimated to contain 15–33 billion neurons, each connected by synapses to several thousand other neurons. These neurons communicate with one another by means of long protoplasmic fibers called axons, which carry trains of signal pulses called action potentials to distant parts of the brain or body targeting specific recipient cells. Physiologically, the function of the brain is to exert centralized control over the other organs of the body. The brain acts on the rest of the body both by generating patterns of muscle activity and by driving secretion of chemicals called hormones. This centralized control allows rapid and coordinated responses to changes in the environment. Some basic types of responsiveness such as reflexes can be mediated by the spinal cord or peripheral ganglia, but sophisticated purposeful control of behavior based on complex sensory input requires the information-integrating capabilities of a centralized brain.

Chambers 20th Century Dictionary(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Brain

   brān, n. the term applied to that part of the central nervous system which in vertebrated animals is contained within the cranium or skull, and in the invertebrata, to the nervous ganglia near the head end of the body: the seat of the intellect and of sensation: the intellect.—v.t. to dash out the brains of: (Shak.) to conceive of.—n. Brain′-cor′al, the popular name of certain kinds of coral, so called from their general resemblance to a brain.—p.adj. Brained, having brains.—n. Brain′-fe′ver, a loose popular term which includes congestion of the brain and its membranes, delirium tremens, and inflammation of the brain substance itself.—adjs. Brain′ish (Shak.), brain-sick, hot-headed, furious; Brain′less, without brains or understanding: silly.—n. Brain′-pan, the skull.—adj. Brain′-sick, diseased in the understanding, deranged.—adv. Brain′sick′ly (Shak.).—n. Brain′-sick′ness. [A.S. brægn; Dut. brein, prov. Ger. bregen]

The Roycroft Dictionary(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. brain

   A commodity as scarce as radium and more precious, used to fertilize ideas.

U.S. National Library of Medicine(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Brain

   The part of CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM that is contained within the skull (CRANIUM). Arising from the NEURAL TUBE, the embryonic brain is comprised of three major parts including PROSENCEPHALON (the forebrain); MESENCEPHALON (the midbrain); and RHOMBENCEPHALON (the hindbrain). The developed brain consists of CEREBRUM; CEREBELLUM; and other structures in the BRAIN STEM.

The Foolish Dictionary, by Gideon Wurdz(5.00 / 1 vote)Rate this definition:

1. BRAIN

   The top-floor apartment in the Human Block, known as the Cranium, and kept by the Sarah Sisters--Sarah Brum and Sarah Belum, assisted by Medulla Oblongata. All three are nervous, but are always confined to their cells. The Brain is done in gray and white, and furnished with light and heat, hot or cold water, (if desired), with regular connections to the outside world by way of the Spinal Circuit. Usually occupied by the Intellect Bros.,--Thoughts and Ideas--as an Intelligence Office, but sometimes sub-let to Jag, Hang-Over & Co.

Editors Contribution(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. brain

   the area that takes up space and is responsible for doing everything.

   the brain was damaged beyond compare.

   Submitted by anonymous on July 13, 2014  

2. brain

   The portion of the vertebrate central nervous system that is located 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.

   His brain functions effectively and he enjoys a healthy fulfilling lifestyle. The Human brain is amazing and Science has so much more to teach us about its structure and functions.

   Submitted by MaryC on June 29, 2015  

Suggested Resources(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. brain

   The brain symbol -- In this Symbols.com article you will learn about the meaning of the brain symbol and its characteristic.

2. brain

   Song lyrics by brain -- Explore a large variety of song lyrics performed by brain on the Lyrics.com website.

British National Corpus

1. Spoken Corpus Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'brain' in Spoken Corpus Frequency: #2197

2. Written Corpus Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'brain' in Written Corpus Frequency: #2368

3. Nouns Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'brain' in Nouns Frequency: #815

Anagrams for brain »

1. abrin

2. bairn

3. Brian, brian

4. riban

5. Brian

How to pronounce brain?

1. 

   Alex

   US English

   

   Daniel

   British

   

   Karen

   Australian

   

   Veena

   Indian

How to say brain in sign language?

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of brain in Chaldean Numerology is: 2

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of brain in Pythagorean Numerology is: 8

Examples of brain in a Sentence

1. Paul Erdős:

   My brain is open.

2. Brian Nelson:

   All you have is your brain.

3. Marvin Minsky:

   I bet the human brain is a kludge.

4. Aesop:

   What a splendid head, yet no brain.

5. Anonymous:

   Ooops. My brain just hit a bad sector.

Images & Illustrations of brain

Popularity rank by frequency of use