brain
BRAYN
Brain (noun) means the organ inside the skull that controls thought, memory, emotion, and the rest of the nervous system. Example: “The surgeon explained which part of the brain controls speech and movement.”
noun
1
The organ inside the skull that controls thought, memory, emotion, and the rest of the nervous system.
"The surgeon explained which part of the brain controls speech and movement."
"A concussion is an injury to the brain."
"Scientists are still mapping how different parts of the brain work together."
2
A person's intelligence or mental ability.
"Use your brain and think it through before you answer."
"He has a good brain for numbers but very little patience."
"She was famous for her sharp brain and quick wit."
3
An especially intelligent person, or the person supplying the ideas behind a plan.
"My sister is the real brain in our family and always gets top marks."
"Our team needs a brain like hers to solve this puzzle."
"She was the brains behind the whole marketing campaign."
verb
1
Informal: to hit someone hard on the head.
"Watch out for that low branch, or you'll brain yourself on it."
"She ducked just in time, or the swinging door would have brained her."
"He nearly brained himself on the low doorframe."
How to use brain
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe organ that lets you think, or, informally, cleverness/intelligence itself.
Common pairings
use your brain
brain surgery
pick someone's brain
the brains of the operation
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Word forms
- Plural
- brains
- Third person singular
- brains
- Past tense
- brained
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The surgeon explained which part of the _____ controls speech and movement.
Etymology
From Old English brægn, going back to a Proto-Germanic root for the same organ.
Synonyms
View more →
grey matter
mind
noggin
cerebrum
brainpower
genius
brainiac
Einstein
head
mastermind
encephalon
harns
Related words
Rhymes for brain
See all rhymes for brain →Frequently asked questions
What does “brain” mean?
The word “brain” means the organ inside the skull that controls thought, memory, emotion, and the rest of the nervous system. In plain terms, the organ that lets you think, or, informally, cleverness/intelligence itself.
How do you pronounce “brain”?
“Brain” is pronounced BRAYN (/ˈbɹeɪ̯n/ in IPA).
How do you use “brain” in a sentence?
Here is “brain” used in a sentence: “A concussion is an injury to the brain.”
What is another word for “brain”?
Words with a similar meaning to “brain” include encephalon and harns.
What part of speech is “brain”?
Depending on how it is used, “brain” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “brain” come from?
The word “brain” comes from Old English. From Old English brægn, going back to a Proto-Germanic root for the same organ.
Is “brain” a common word?
“Brain” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
How many meanings does “brain” have?
“Brain” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the organ inside the skull that controls thought, memory, emotion, and the rest of the nervous system.
What is the difference between the brain and the mind?
The brain is the physical organ inside the skull — tissue, cells, and electrical activity you could hold in your hand. The mind refers to the thoughts, feelings, and awareness the brain produces. Put simply, the brain is the hardware and the mind is what that hardware experiences and does.
What are the main parts of the brain?
The brain is usually divided into three broad regions. The cerebrum handles thought, the senses, and voluntary movement; the cerebellum coordinates balance and fine motor control; and the brainstem manages automatic functions like breathing and heartbeat. Together they run both conscious activity and the processes you never notice.
Can the brain be trained or improved?
To a degree, yes. Through a property called neuroplasticity, the brain forms and strengthens connections in response to learning and practice. Study, new skills, exercise, and good sleep can all support memory and thinking, though there is no shortcut that permanently boosts raw intelligence.
Why is the brain important?
The brain controls almost everything you do. It processes what your senses take in, stores memories, generates emotion, drives decisions, and regulates the body through the nervous system — including automatic functions such as breathing. Without it, neither conscious thought nor basic survival would be possible.
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