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brain

brain

106 3.4
A person who thinks of the main ideas for a plan
  • noun
  • /breɪn/
: cerebro
  • But her special advantage was a brain that could recognize a possibility and devise the means.
  • brain drain

I feel like I'm the brains of this show.

Examples

  • Many benefits to the brain have been directly linked to being physically active.

    Academic text (2007)
  • And he is the pioneer, the the brain behind.

  • Use that big brain of yours.

  • Having a worker who did not need to bring his brains to work was okay.

    Academic text (1996)
  • I feel like I'm the brains of this show.

  • Potter and I have wracked our brains to think of how we could have headed this off.

    Fiction book (1996)
  • She's the brain behind our innovative marketing strategy, coming up with ideas that really stand out.

  • After working with him on the project, it's clear he's the brain of the team, always suggesting creative solutions.

  • Many consider her to be the brain of the operation, driving the success of the entire organization with her ideas.

Synonyms

genius
vsbrain
694 4.9

A person with very strong intelligence or creative skill

is similar but also covers notable skill or practical talent
talent
vsbrain
362 2.8

A person who has a natural ability in one area

is about outstanding overall intelligence or ability, not single field
mastermind
vsbrain
78 6.1

A person who plans and leads a difficult, clever project

is broader and names exceptional intelligence rather than project leadership
brainer
vsbrain
  • Informal
59 6.5

A person who is very clever

means exceptionally intelligent or talented, stronger than merely being clever
brainiac
vsbrain
  • Slang
25 8.2

A person who is very smart and good at solving hard problems

is broader, applying to high ability beyond just academic contexts
Einstein
vsbrain
  • Informal
18 5.6

A very smart person who is especially good in one subject

is the general label for exceptional intelligence or notable skill
intellect
vsbrain
7 6.0

A person who thinks clearly and deeply about ideas and problems

is the more general term for exceptional intelligence or talent
superbrain
vsbrain
1 7.0

A very smart person who solves difficult problems quickly

is used for either exceptional thinking or remarkable practical skill

Antonyms

fool
  • Offensive
∞ 1.4

A person who makes poor decisions and is easily tricked

simpleton
  • Offensive
20 7.3

A person who is not very smart and trusts people easily

Idioms

to beat my brain
  • Informal
1 8.2

To think very hard to remember something or to solve a problem

1 4.2

Think carefully before you speak or act

to bend my brain
  • Informal
1 8.8

To think very hard about something until you feel confused

1 9.1

To think very hard to remember or solve a problem

1 5.8

Think very hard to remember something or solve a problem

To behave in a silly and immature way

A thought that keeps coming into your mind and is hard to forget

To try to get rid of bad pictures or thoughts in your mind after something upsetting

7.9

A state of always thinking about your job even when trying to relax

Compounds

brain damage
  • Specialized
93 3.7

Injury to the brain that causes long term problems with how it works

brain cell
  • Specialized
61 2.8

A cell in the brain that sends and receives messages

brain tumor
  • Specialized
60 3.4

An unusual growth of cells in the brain that can be harmful

brain dead
  • Specialized
60 7.4

A person with no brain activity and no chance to get better, though the body may still work

brain surgery
  • Specialized
37 4.1

An operation on the brain to treat illness or injury

brain wave
  • Specialized
33 4.0

A pattern of electrical activity in the brain seen on an EEG

21 2.9

A doctor who operates on the brain and nerves

brain stem
  • Specialized
20 4.1

The part of the brain near the spinal cord that controls breathing and heart rate

brain-damaged
  • Specialized
18 7.2

With a serious injury to the brain that makes it hard to think or move

right brain
  • Specialized
17 5.6

Part of the brain that controls the left side of the body and helps with creativity and understanding space

17 4.4

Left half of the brain that controls the right body side and helps with language and thinking

brain trust
  • Literature
13 5.6

A group of expert advisors who help a leader, often unofficially in politics

8 4.2

The leaving of skilled or well educated people from a country to work abroad for better jobs

brain disease
  • Specialized
7 3.2

An illness that damages the brain and makes it work less well

brain death
  • Specialized
7 5.8

A condition when all brain activity stops and cannot return, even if the heart still beats

brain disorder
  • Specialized
6 3.7

A health problem that harms the brain and how it works

brain science
  • Specialized
4 3.7

Study of the brain and how it works

4 6.5

A hard puzzle that needs careful thought to solve

brain fart
  • Slang
3 9.3

A short moment when you forget something or get confused

blood-brain barrier
  • Specialized
3 5.1

A barrier of blood vessels and cells that stops harmful substances in the blood from entering the brain

brain fever
  • Archaic
2 9.9

An old name for a serious infection of the brain or its lining

brain behavior
  • Specialized
2 5.6

The way brain activity links to a person's actions

bubble brain
  • Informal
1 9.5

A short time when someone cannot think clearly

1 5.5

A clear liquid around the brain that protects it and helps it work

limbic brain
  • Specialized
1 6.5

A group of brain parts that help control emotions, memory and behavior

addle-brain
  • Offensive
1 9.9

A person who is confused and forgetful

brain-stem
  • Specialized
1 4.4

The part of the brain at the base that connects to the spinal cord and controls breathing and heart rate

brain bucket
  • Slang
1 9.0

A protective helmet worn when riding a bicycle or motorcycle

brain edema
  • Specialized
1 4.8

Swelling in the brain that happens when extra fluid builds up

second brain
  • Jargon
1 6.5

A system or tool that stores information to help you remember and organize things

1 6.1

A large hard sea animal with a wrinkled surface that looks like a brain

booger brain
  • Offensive
1 9.9

A person who acts silly, said as a playful insult

1 8.9

The brain of a young cow that people eat

brain truster
  • Literature
1 8.6

A person who gives expert advice to political leaders without an official job

brain candy
  • Informal
1 6.5

Fun TV shows or books that do not need much thought

brain rot
  • Slang
1 7.7

A slow loss of clear thinking from little mental activity or too much screen time

brain sugar
  • Specialized
1 8.0

A simple sugar found in milk and body tissues that helps the brain grow

olfactory brain
  • Specialized
1 8.2

Part of the brain that helps you smell and connect smells with feelings

1 6.8

A brain problem caused by injury or disease that harms thinking and memory

brain-worker
  • Archaic
1 7.2

A person who uses thinking to solve problems and create ideas in their job

1 8.1

A mild brain problem in children, often in boys, that causes problems with behaviour and learning

brain traffic
  • Informal
1 8.5

Busy, messy thoughts that make it hard to focus

feather-brain
  • Offensive
1 9.1

A person who often forgets things and acts silly

A condition in children that makes them restless and have trouble paying attention, now called ADHD

fish brain
  • Offensive
1 9.0

A person who often forgets things and is not careful

brain-fag
  • NSFW
1 9.9

A feeling of mental tiredness that makes it hard to think

visceral brain
  • Specialized
1 8.8

Part of the brain that controls feelings like fear and pleasure

6.0

Flow of the clear fluid in and around the brain

A poisonous mushroom with a wrinkled cap that looks like a brain

acute brain disorder
  • Specialized
7.3

A sudden short-term brain problem that makes a person confused and often follows illness, injury, or medicine use

Temporary state of confusion and disorientation caused by short-term brain damage from infection, injury or drugs

8.5

A silly idea that shows little thought

mathy brain
  • Informal
8.5

A mind that naturally likes and understands numbers and logic

split-brain technique
  • Specialized
9.7

A surgery that cuts the connection between the two halves of the brain

How Intelligent

genius
694 4.9
brain
106 3.4
intellectual
92 6.0
layperson
10 4.9
fool
  • Offensive
∞ 1.4

Surface Forms

brain singular
brains plural

Etymology

Calling someone the brain of a group is like saying they are the person who does the thinking and planning, so the word now means an especially intelligent or talented person.