brain wave
[ breyn-weyv ]
/ ˈbreɪn ˌweɪv /
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noun
Usually brain waves .Medicine/Medical. 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.Compare alpha rhythm, beta rhythm, delta rhythm.
Informal. a sudden idea or inspiration; brainstorm.
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Origin of brain wave
First recorded in 1865–70
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use brain wave in a sentence
Fortunately, there is new tech to the rescue: inexpensive, commercial-grade brainwave readers.
It's not such a unique brainwave -- Robert Kagan has urged similar ideas.
"It was a sort of second-sight—what they call a brainwave," Nick smiled.
The Tragic Muse|Henry JamesThought exchange by "brainwave" is wonderful, even if we still need a little speech as auxiliary.
The Brain|Alexander Blade
British Dictionary definitions for brain wave (1 of 2)
brainwave
/ (ˈbreɪnˌweɪv) /
noun
informal a sudden inspiration or ideaAlso called: brainstorm
British Dictionary definitions for brain wave (2 of 2)
brain wave
noun
any of the fluctuations of electrical potential in the brain as represented on an electroencephalogram. They vary in frequency from 1 to 30 hertzSee also alpha rhythm, beta rhythm, delta rhythm
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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