brain
brain
Pronunciation
ˈ[breɪn]
Here's a breakdown of the sounds in each syllable:
br: /b/ (voiced bilabial stop) + /ɹ/ (voiced alveolar approximant)
aɪ: /aɪ/ (diphthong, starting with a low front vowel and moving to a high front vowel)
n: /n/ (voiced alveolar nasal)
Word Form Variations
Singular: brain
Plural: brains
The plural form, "brains," is also used informally to refer to intelligence or a clever person.
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Definitions, Synonyms, Antonyms
Noun
Definition: The organ in the head that controls thought, memory, emotion, and behavior.
Synonyms: cerebrum, mind, intellect
Antonyms: none
Verb (Informal)
Definition: To devise or plan something, often cleverly or quickly.
Synonyms: conceive, invent, imagine
Antonyms: forget, overlook
Adjective (Informal)
Definition: Intelligent or clever.
Synonyms: smart, bright, sharp
Antonyms: stupid, dumb, slow
Examples of Use
Noun
Scientific Context: "The human brain is an incredibly complex organ." (Neuroscience textbook)
Everyday Conversation: "I've been racking my brain trying to figure out this puzzle."
Literary Usage: "The old man's brain was a vast repository of forgotten lore." (A historical fiction novel)
Verb
Informal Conversation: "Let's brain a new marketing strategy."
Slang: "I'm gonna brain this problem and get it done."
Adjective
Informal Conversation: "She's a brain, no doubt about it."
Slang: "He's a total brainbox."
In Popular Culture
Movie Title: "Brainstorm" (1983 science fiction film)
Song Title: "Brain Damage" by Pink Floyd
TV Show: "Brain Games" (National Geographic documentary series)
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10 Famous Quotes Using the term Brain
"The chief function of the body is to carry the brain around." — Thomas Edison
"The brain is wider than the sky." — Emily Dickinson
"You can’t teach an old dog new tricks, but you can teach an old brain to think new thoughts." — Anonymous
"A brain is like a parachute. It doesn’t work if it is not open." — Frank Zappa
"The human brain is a most unusual instrument of elegant and as yet unknown capacity." — Stuart Seaton
"The brain is a monstrous, beautiful mess. Its billions of nerve cells make and break connections all the time." — David Eagleman
"A brain, like a muscle, grows stronger when it is exercised." — Anonymous
"The brain is an apparatus with which we think that we think." — Ambrose Bierce
"A man’s brain originally is like a little empty attic, and you have to stock it with such furniture as you choose." — Arthur Conan Doyle (Sherlock Holmes)
"The brain is the most complex organ in the universe, yet we know so little about it." — Anonymous
Etymology
The word "brain" has a long history. It comes from the Old English word "braegen," which dates back to before the year 1150. Interestingly, the word "bran" (the stuff you might find in cereal) is related to "brain" in the way that both words refer to a soft, pulpy substance.
Back in the early days, people didn't fully understand how the brain worked. They saw it as a soft, squishy organ, and the word "brain" reflected that understanding. Over time, our knowledge of the brain has grown, but the word itself has stayed the same.
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Phrases + Idioms Containing the term Brain
Rack your brain: To think very hard about something.
Pick someone's brain: To ask someone for their advice or expertise.
Brainwave: A sudden, clever idea.
Brain dead: Unconscious or unresponsive.
Brainchild: An idea or invention that someone has created.
Brainwash: To force someone to accept a set of beliefs or ideas.
All brawn and no brain: Physically strong but not very intelligent.
Beat your brains out: To work very hard on something.
Brain storm: A group activity to generate ideas.
Posts Related to Brain
Source Information
Definition of brain from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
