Brain: meaning, definitions and examples
๐ง
brain
[ breษชn ]
human anatomy
The brain is the organ inside your head that controls your thoughts, movements, feelings, and everything else you do.
Synonyms
Which Synonym Should You Choose?
| Word | Description / Examples |
|---|---|
| brain |
Use when referring to the physical organ in the head or when talking about intelligence in a general sense.
|
| mind |
Can describe someone's thoughts and feelings, or the ability to think and reason, more abstract than 'brain'.
|
| intellect |
Refers to the ability to reason and understand, often used in a formal or academic context.
|
| cognition |
Suitable for discussing mental processes like thinking, understanding, learning, and remembering.
|
Examples of usage
- The brain is responsible for processing information from the senses.
- The brain is divided into different regions, each with specific functions.
figurative
The brain can also refer to a person's intellect or mental capacity.
Synonyms
intellect, intelligence, mind.
Which Synonym Should You Choose?
| Word | Description / Examples |
|---|---|
| brain |
Often used to refer to the physical organ or to highlight someone's intelligence in a more casual or general way.
|
| mind |
Can refer to the seat of consciousness, thoughts, and emotions. It is much broader than just intelligence, often used in everyday speech.
|
| intellect |
Typically refers to the ability to think and understand things quickly and in a sophisticated manner, often used in formal or academic contexts.
|
| intelligence |
Used to describe the ability to learn, understand, and make judgments or have opinions that are based on reason. It is often used in both technical and general contexts.
|
Examples of usage
- She has a brilliant brain for solving puzzles.
- His creative brain never ceases to impress me.
informal
To brain someone means to hit them on the head with a heavy object.
Synonyms
Which Synonym Should You Choose?
| Word | Description / Examples |
|---|---|
| brain |
Typically used to describe a severe blow to the head, often in a violent context. It implies causing serious injury or damage.
|
| hit |
A general term for striking someone or something. Applicable in a wide range of situations from light taps to hard blows.
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| strike |
Often used in more formal or descriptive writing, can refer to hitting targets, people, or even metaphorical things like a striking thought.
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| clobber |
Used in informal contexts to mean hitting someone hard, but often implies a physical fight or confrontation. It's less violent than 'brain'.
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Examples of usage
- He threatened to brain the intruder with a baseball bat.
- Be careful, you might brain yourself with that rock!
Translations
Translations of the word "brain" in other languages:
๐ต๐น cรฉrebro
๐ฎ๐ณ เคฎเคธเฅเคคเคฟเคทเฅเค
๐ฉ๐ช Gehirn
๐ฎ๐ฉ otak
๐บ๐ฆ ะผะพะทะพะบ
๐ต๐ฑ mรณzg
๐ฏ๐ต ่ณ (ใฎใ)
๐ซ๐ท cerveau
๐ช๐ธ cerebro
๐น๐ท beyin
๐ฐ๐ท ๋ (noe)
๐ธ๐ฆ ุฏู ุงุบ
๐จ๐ฟ mozek
๐ธ๐ฐ mozog
๐จ๐ณ ๅคง่ (dร nวo)
๐ธ๐ฎ moลพgani
๐ฎ๐ธ heili
๐ฐ๐ฟ ะผะธ
๐ฌ๐ช แขแแแแ
๐ฆ๐ฟ beyin
๐ฒ๐ฝ cerebro
Etymology
The word 'brain' has its origins in the Old English word 'brรฆgen', which is related to the Old High German 'bragan' and the Old Norse 'heili'. The brain has long been considered the seat of intelligence and consciousness in humans, with early civilizations such as the Egyptians and Greeks recognizing its importance. The study of the brain, known as neuroscience, has advanced significantly over the centuries, leading to a greater understanding of its functions and complexities.
See also: braincase, brainiac, brainpan, brainpower, brains, brainstorm, brainstorming, brainteaser, brainwash, brainwashing, brainwave, brainworm, brainy.