Dictionary

brainstorm en · NOUN

Pronunciation

/ˈbɹeɪnstɔɹm/ (General-American)
(Southern-England) audio
/ˈbɹeɪnstɔːm/ (Received-Pronunciation)
(US) audio

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *mregʰ- Proto-Indo-European *-n̥ Proto-Indo-European *mrógʰ-n̥ ~ *mrégʰ-n̥-s Proto-Germanic *bragną Proto-West Germanic *bragn Old English bræġn Middle English brayn English brain English storm English brainstorm From brain + storm. In the sense of "problem-solve", devised as a method of group creative problem-solving by advertising executive Alex F. Osborn and his employees, who coined the term based on the image of using "the brain to storm a problem". First use appears c. 1945. In the sense of "seizure, convulsion, brain activity", from the unrelated idea that it resembles a storm in the brain. First use appears c. 1861.

Meanings

(US) A sudden thought, particularly one that solves a long-standing problem.
- I had been working on the problem for weeks, and then I had a brainstorm and saw that the solution was easy.
A session of brainstorming, investigating a problem to try to find solutions.
(UK) An unexpected mental error.
- 2005 October 5, "Iguchi hit ruins Red Sox's night", BBC Online, 5 October A terrible fielding error from Tony Graffanino proved costly. … Aaron Rowand collected an RBI double to get them off the mark before Graffanino's brainstorm. Juan Uribe hit a roller to the second baseman, who let the potential inning-ending double-play ball roll under his glove, leaving runners at first and third bases.
(alt-of, alternative) Alternative form of brain storm (“activity in the brain, such as a seizure or convulsion”).
alt of brain storm
- electrical brainstorm

Forms

Spelling	Features	Labels	Source
brain-storm		alternative	lexicographic
brainstorms	Number=Plur		lexicographic
brain storm		alternative	lexicographic

Deriveds

brainstormy

Synonyms

brainwave

Translations (13)

sv aha-upplevelse (sudden thought) · es solamente una idea [loca] (brainstorming) · fi älynvälähdys (sudden thought) · sv hjärnsläpp (mental error) · fi moka (mental error) · fi välähdys (sudden thought) · de Geistesblitz (sudden thought) · pl olśnienie (sudden thought) · pl zaćmienie (mental error) · es gracia (sudden thought) · es ocurrencia (sudden thought) · mi ohia manomano (sudden thought) · fi neronleimaus (sudden thought)

wikipedia: creative problem-solving · wikipedia: Alex F. Osborn

brainstorm en · VERB

Pronunciation

/ˈbɹeɪnstɔɹm/ (General-American)
(Southern-England) audio
/ˈbɹeɪnstɔːm/ (Received-Pronunciation)
(US) audio

Etymology

Meanings

(intransitive) To investigate something, or solve a problem using brainstorming.
- Meanwihle at Winterfell, another overdone scheme designed mainly to surprise the audience. In the black of her chambers, Sansa brainstorms with Littlefinger what Arya could want. “After she murders you, what does she become?” he asks. To which Sansa does everything but gasp and spit-take, widening her eyes and saying like she’s just realizing it for the first time, “Lady of Winterfell.” 2017 August 27, Brandon Nowalk, “Game Of Thrones slows down for the longest, and best, episode of the season (newbies)”, in The Onion AV Club:
- On another occasion, when trying to brainstorm things I could do to make myself feel better despite all the pandemic restrictions, Woebot suggested I “try doing something nice for someone in your life,” like make a calming tea for my housemate or check in with a loved one. 2022 September 27, Barclay Bram, “My Therapist, the Robot”, in The New York Times:
(intransitive) To participate in a brainstorming session.
(transitive) To think up (ideas); especially, to do so creatively.
- I need you to brainstorm some suggestions for next week's activity schedule.

Forms

Spelling	Features	Labels	Source
brainstormed	Tense=Past, VerbForm=Part		lexicographic
brainstormed	Tense=Past		lexicographic
brainstorming	Tense=Pres, VerbForm=Part		lexicographic
brain-storm		alternative	lexicographic
brain storm		alternative	lexicographic
brainstorms	Number=Sing, Person=3, Tense=Pres		lexicographic