brains
See also: Brains
English edit
Pronunciation edit
Noun edit
brains
Noun edit
brains pl (plural only)
- The substance of a brain, as a material or foodstuff.
- c. 1606 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Macbeth”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, (please specify the act number in uppercase Roman numerals, and the scene number in lowercase Roman numerals):
- I would, while it was smiling in my face,
Have pluck'd my nipple from his boneless gums,
And dash'd the brains out, had I so sworn as you
Have done to this.
- (informal) The figurative substance of a brain: mental ability, intelligence.
- Sadly, I got my brains from my mom and my looks from the mailman.
- (informal, with "the") The intelligent person or people in a group: the director, planner, administrator, etc.
- Who's the brains behind this operation?
- 1990, House of Cards, season 1, episode 1:
- I mean, it's a bit of a waste of money paying me eighteen grand to run errands, isn't it? Come on. I'm supposed to be the brains of this outfit.
Derived terms edit
Translations edit
as food
(informal) intelligence, aptitude
(informal, with “the”) the intelligent person or people in a group: the director, planner, administrator, etc.
See also edit
- (intelligent person; director, planner, administrator): mastermind
Verb edit
brains
- third-person singular simple present indicative of brain