brainwave
|brain-wave|
B2
/ˈbreɪnˌweɪv/
sudden insight
Etymology
Etymology Information
'brainwave' originates from the combination of 'brain' and 'wave', where 'brain' refers to the organ in the head and 'wave' refers to a signal or oscillation.
Historical Evolution
'brainwave' was first used in the early 20th century to describe electrical activity in the brain.
Meaning Changes
Initially, it referred to electrical impulses in the brain, but it evolved to also mean a sudden clever idea.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a sudden clever idea or insight.
She had a brainwave and solved the problem instantly.
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Antonyms
Noun 2
an electrical impulse in the brain, as detected by an electroencephalograph.
The EEG showed unusual brainwave patterns.
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Idioms
Last updated: 2025/01/11 11:35