brain wave

[breyn weyv]

noun

1. Medicine/Medical.,  Usually brain waves an electrical impulse given off by brain tissue, occurring at a frequency that varies according to mental state or activity, such as the slow waves associated with deep sleep and the fast waves associated with actively engaged thoughts and speech.

2. Informal.,  a sudden idea or inspiration; brainstorm.

brain wave

noun

1. any of the fluctuations of electrical potential in the brain as represented on an electroencephalogram. They vary in frequency from 1 to 30 hertz See also alpha rhythm beta rhythm delta rhythm

Word History and Origins

Origin of brain wave¹

First recorded in 1865–70

Related Words

• approach 
• attention 
• attitude 
• awareness 
• concept 
• consciousness 
• feeling 
• image 
• impression 
• judgment 
• knowledge 
• notion 
• opinion 
• recognition 
• sense 
• taste 
• thought 
• viewpoint