brain

1. 1

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

   • The Ueynes are ſpred foorth throughout the whole bodie, howbeit from one welhead, that is to ſay from the Liuer: ſo be the Sinews, howbeit from the Brayne; So likewiſe are the Heartſtrings, howbeit from the Heart.
   • The brain of a calf, sheep, and pig, young and served fresh, is reputedly erotic in its effects.
2. 2

   The control center of the central nervous system of an animal located in the skull, consisting of the cerebrum, cerebellum, and brainstem, which is responsible for perception, cognition, attention, memory, emotion, and action.; A part of the brain, especially associated with particular mental functions, abilities, etc.countableuncountable

   • The left brain, or that which supplies and animates the right side of the body, is the most active brain, as a general rule.
3. 3

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

   • caused the young Princess, the King's only Daughter, to be taken and thrust into a large velvet Sack, and her Brains to be knockt out with great Bars
4. 4

   Mind.countableinformaluncountable

   • I have too much on my brain today.
5. 5

   Intellect.countablein-pluraluncountable

   • "We provided a lot of brains and a lot of heart to the response when it was needed," says Sandra Sanchez, director of AFSC's Immigrants' Voice Program in Des Moines.
   • She has a lot of brains.
6. 6

   An intelligent person.countableinformaluncountable

   • She was a total brain.
7. 7

   An intelligent person.; A person who provides the intelligence required for something.countableinformalplural

   • He is the brains behind the scheme.
8. 8

   An intelligent person.; An intellectual or mental capacity.countableinformalsingular

   • Gerald always acts like he doesn't have a brain.
9. 9

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

   • The computer's brain is capable of millions of calculations a second.
10. 10

    Oral sex.slanguncountablevulgar

    • Have you ever popped champagne on a plane, while gettin' some brain?
    • You said I got brain from your dame in the range / In the passing lane / But you really ain't got no proof

syn. brain · encephalon · harns

1. 1

   To dash out the brains of; to kill by smashing the skull.transitive

2. 2

   To strike (someone) on the head.transitive

   • Lambdon would require medical attention for a fractured skull. It seemed that Fen had passed his wife a couple of telling pictures, whereupon the drab Mrs. Lambdon had brained her husband with a table lamp.
3. 3

   To destroy; to put an end to.figurativelytransitive

   • There thou maiſt braine him,
   • It was the ſwift celeritie of his death / […] That brain'd my purpoſe:
4. 4

   To conceive in the mind; to understand.obsoletetransitive

   • 'Tis still a dream, or else such stuff as madmen / Tongue, and brain not.
5. 5

   To think effectively.humorousintransitivenonstandard

   • My brain isn't braining right now.