brains

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See also: Brains

English

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Pronunciation

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  • IPA(key): /bɹeɪnz/
  • Audio (US):(file)
  • Rhymes: -eɪnz

Noun

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brains

  1. plural of brain

Noun

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brains pl (plural only)

  1. 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.
  2. (informal) The figurative substance of a brain: mental ability, intelligence.
    Sadly, I got my brains from my mom and my looks from the mailman.
  3. (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

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Translations

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See also

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  • (intelligent person; director, planner, administrator): mastermind

Verb

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brains

  1. third-person singular simple present indicative of brain

Anagrams

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