brains en · NOUN
Pronunciation
- /bɹeɪnz/
- (US) audio
Meanings
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(form-of, plural) plural of brain
form of brain
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(plural, plural-only) The substance of a brain, as a material or foodstuff.
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.
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):
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(informal, plural, plural-only) The figurative substance of a brain: mental ability, intelligence.
It was true that he had the muscles of an ox and the stamina of an ox, the trouble was that he seemed to have the brains of an ox.
1986, Terry Pratchett, The Light Fantastic, published 2022, page 161:Sadly, I got my brains from my mom and my looks from the mailman.
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(informal, plural, plural-only, with-definite-article) The intelligent person or people in a group: the director, planner, administrator, etc.
Paulvitch smiled. “You are supposed to be the brains of this partnership, my dear Nikolas,” he replied. “Why do you not find the means to search Monsieur Caldwell’s stateroom—eh?”
1913, Edgar Rice Burroughs, The Return of Tarzan, New York: Ballantine Books, published 1963, page 103:Who's the brains behind this operation?
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.
1990, House of Cards, season 1, episode 1:
Deriveds
hump someone's brains out · blow someone's brains out · fuck someone's brains out
Relateds
mastermind (intelligent person, director, planner, administrator)
Translations (25)
ru мозги́ (as food) · fr cervelle ((informal) intelligence, aptitude) · hu ész ((informal) intelligence, aptitude) · bg акъл ((informal) intelligence, aptitude) · hu velő (as food) · bg мозък (as food) · fr cervelle (as food) · es mollera ((informal) intelligence, aptitude) · hu agy ((informal, with “the”) the intelligent person or people in a group: the director, planner, administrator, etc.) · hu ész ((informal, with “the”) the intelligent person or people in a group: the director, planner, administrator, etc.) · hu agyvelő (as food) · hu gógyi ((informal) intelligence, aptitude) · hu agytröszt ((informal, with “the”) the intelligent person or people in a group: the director, planner, administrator, etc.) · es seso ((informal) intelligence, aptitude) · apc نخاعات (as food) · es entendederas ((informal) intelligence, aptitude) · hu értelmi szerző ((informal, with “the”) the intelligent person or people in a group: the director, planner, administrator, etc.) · bg ум ((informal, with “the”) the intelligent person or people in a group: the director, planner, administrator, etc.) · es sesera ((informal) intelligence, aptitude) · hu koponya ((informal, with “the”) the intelligent person or people in a group: the director, planner, administrator, etc.) · hu észlény ((informal, with “the”) the intelligent person or people in a group: the director, planner, administrator, etc.) · hu nagyágyú ((informal, with “the”) the intelligent person or people in a group: the director, planner, administrator, etc.) · eo cerbaĵo (as food) · pl móżdżek (as food) · it testa pensante ((informal, with “the”) the intelligent person or people in a group: the director, planner, administrator, etc.)