*brai*

{ } n. A foolish or dull-witted fellow. [ Colloq. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

{ } a. Dull-witted; stupid. “The addle-brained Oberstein.” Motley. [ 1913 Webster ]

Dull and addle-pated. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ } a. 1. Of or pertaining to algebra; using algebra; according to the laws of algebra; containing an operation of algebra, or deduced from such operation; as, algebraic characters; algebraical writings; algebraic geometry. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. progressing by constant multiplicatory factors; -- of a series of numbers. Contrasted to arithmetical. algebraic progression
Syn. -- algebraic [ PJC ]

Algebraic curve, a curve such that the equation which expresses the relation between the coördinates of its points involves only the ordinary operations of algebra; -- opposed to a transcendental curve. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. By algebraic process. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One versed in algebra. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To perform by algebra; to reduce to algebraic form. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ } a. Made or decorated after the fanciful style of the ornamentation in the Alhambra, which affords an unusually fine exhibition of Saracenic or Arabesque architecture. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. a person with confused ideas; incapable of serious thought.
Syn. -- addle-head, loon. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Braided; p. pr. & vb. n. Braiding. ] [ OE. braiden, breiden, to pull, reach, braid, AS. bregdan to move to and fro, to weave; akin. to Icel. bregða, D. breiden to knit, OS. bregdan to weave, OHG. brettan to brandish. Cf. Broid. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. To weave, interlace, or entwine together, as three or more strands or threads; to form into a braid; to plait. [ 1913 Webster ]

Braid your locks with rosy twine. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To mingle, or to bring to a uniformly soft consistence, by beating, rubbing, or straining, as in some culinary operations. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To reproach. [ Obs. ] See Upbraid. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. A plait, band, or narrow fabric formed by intertwining or weaving together different strands. [ 1913 Webster ]

A braid of hair composed of two different colors twined together. Scott. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A narrow fabric, as of wool, silk, or linen, used for binding, trimming, or ornamenting dresses, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf.Icel. breg&unr_;a to move quickly. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. A quick motion; a start. [ Obs. ] Sackville. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A fancy; freak; caprice. [ Obs. ] R. Hyrde. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. To start; to awake. [ Obs. ] Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ AS. bræd, bred, deceit; akin to Icel. bragð trick, AS. bredan, bregdan, to braid, knit, (hence) to knit a net, to draw into a net, i. e., to deceive. See Braid, v. t. ] Deceitful. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Since Frenchmen are so braid,
Marry that will, I live and die a maid. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

adj. 1. adorned with braid; as, his braided collar. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

2. formed into a braid or braids; as, braided hair. [ PJC ]

n. 1. The act of making or using braids. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Braids, collectively; trimming. [ 1913 Webster ]

A gentleman enveloped in mustachios, whiskers, fur collars, and braiding. Thackeray. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ OE. brayle furling rope, OF. braiol a band placed around the breeches, fr.F. braies, pl., breeches, fr. L. braca, bracae, breeches, a Gallic word; cf. Arm. bragez. Cf. Breeches. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. (Falconry) A thong of soft leather to bind up a hawk's wing. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. pl. (Naut.) Ropes passing through pulleys, and used to haul in or up the leeches, bottoms, or corners of sails, preparatory to furling. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. A stock at each end of a seine to keep it stretched. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. (Naut.) To haul up by the brails; -- used with up; as, to brail up a sail. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. A system of printing or writing for the blind in which the characters and numerals are represented by patterns of raised tangible points or dots. It was invented by Louis Braille, a French teacher of the blind. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

v. 1. to transcribe in Braille. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. [ OE. brain, brein, AS. bragen, brægen; akin to LG. brägen, bregen, D. brein, and perh. to Gr. bre`gma, brechmo`s, the upper part of head, if β = φ. √95. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. (Anat.) The whitish mass of soft matter (the center of the nervous system, and the seat of consciousness and volition) which is inclosed in the cartilaginous or bony cranium of vertebrate animals. It is simply the anterior termination of the spinal cord, and is developed from three embryonic vesicles, whose cavities are connected with the central canal of the cord; the cavities of the vesicles become the central cavities, or ventricles, and the walls thicken unequally and become the three segments, the fore-, mid-, and hind-brain. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ In the brain of man the cerebral lobes, or largest part of the forebrain, are enormously developed so as to overhang the cerebellum, the great lobe of the hindbrain, and completely cover the lobes of the midbrain. The surface of the cerebrum is divided into irregular ridges, or convolutions, separated by grooves (the so-called fissures and sulci), and the two hemispheres are connected at the bottom of the longitudinal fissure by a great transverse band of nervous matter, the corpus callosum, while the two halves of the cerebellum are connected on the under side of the brain by the bridge, or pons Varolii. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Zool.) The anterior or cephalic ganglion in insects and other invertebrates. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. The organ or seat of intellect; hence, the understanding; as, use your brains. “ My brain is too dull.” Sir W. Scott. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ In this sense, often used in the plural. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. The affections; fancy; imagination. [ R. ] Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. a very intelligent person. [ informal ] [ PJC ]

6. the controlling electronic mechanism for a robot, guided missile, computer, or other device exhibiting some degree of self-regulation. [ informal ] [ PJC ]

To have on the brain, to have constantly in one's thoughts, as a sort of monomania. [ Low ] --
no-brainer a decision requiring little or no thought; an obvious choice. [ slang ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Brain box or
Brain case, the bony or cartilaginous case inclosing the brain. --
Brain coral,
Brain stone coral (Zool.), a massive reef-building coral having the surface covered by ridges separated by furrows so as to resemble somewhat the surface of the brain, esp. such corals of the genera Mæandrina and Diploria. --
Brain fag (Med.), brain weariness. See Cerebropathy. --
Brain fever (Med.), fever in which the brain is specially affected; any acute cerebral affection attended by fever. --
Brain sand, calcareous matter found in the pineal gland. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Brained p. pr. & vb. n. Braining. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. To dash out the brains of; to kill by beating out the brains. Hence, Fig.: To destroy; to put an end to; to defeat. [ 1913 Webster ]

There thou mayst brain him. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

It was the swift celerity of the death . . .
That brained my purpose. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To conceive; to understand. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

'T is still a dream, or else such stuff as madmen
Tongue, and brain not. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. the part of the skull that encloses the brain.
Syn. -- cranium, brainpan. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. a product of one's creative thinking and work; as, the project was the brainchild of the director.
Syn. -- inspiration. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

p. a. Supplied with brains. [ 1913 Webster ]

If th' other two be brained like us. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Hot-headed; furious. [ R. ] Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Without understanding; silly; thoughtless; witless. -- Brain"less*ness, n. [1913 Webster]

n. [ Brain + pan. ] The bones which inclose the brain; the skull; the cranium. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. mental ability; intellectual acuity.
Syn. -- brain, learning ability, mental capacity, mentality, wit. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

a. Disordered in the understanding; giddy; thoughtless. -- Brain"sick*ness, n. [1913 Webster]

adv. In a brainsick manner. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. the clear (and often sudden) understanding of a complex situation; a sudden brilliant insight.
Syn. -- insight, brainwave. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

v. t. & i. to try to solve a problem by discussing it exhaustively in an intense group meeting encouraging uninhibited and spontaneous contributions from all members.
Syn. -- practice brainstorming. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. a difficult problem.
Syn. -- riddle, conundrum, enigma. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

v. [ imp. & p. p. brainwashed; p. pr. & vb. n. brainwashing ] 1. to persuade completely; as, the propaganda brainwashed many people. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

2. to to indoctrinate forcibly or by means of torture, or by constant psychological pressure.
Syn. -- submit to brainwashing. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

adj. subjected to intensive forced indoctrination resulting in the rejection of old beliefs and acceptance of new ones. brainwashed prisoners of war; captive audiences for TV commercials can become brainwashed consumers unbrainwashed [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. the process of forcible indoctrination into a new set of attitudes and beliefs. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. 1. rapid fluctuations of voltage between parts of the brain.
Syn. -- brain wave, cortical potential. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

2. the clear (and often sudden) understanding of a complex situation.
Syn. -- insight, brainstorm. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

a. 1. Having an active or vigorous mind. [ Colloq. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

2. highly intelligent. [ PJC ]

v. t. [ F. braiser, fr. braise coals. ] (Cookery) To stew or broil in a covered kettle or pan. [ 1913 Webster ]

A braising kettle has a deep cover which holds coals; consequently the cooking is done from above, as well as below. Mrs. Henderson. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A kettle or pan for braising. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf.W. braith variegated, Ir. breath, breagh, fine, comely. ] A rough diamond. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ } n. [ So called from its iridescent colors. ] (Zool.) A European marine fish (Pagrus vulgaris) allied to the American scup; the becker. The name is sometimes applied to the related species. [ Also written brazier. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

{ }, n. [ F. ] 1. Charcoal powder; breeze. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Cookery) Braised meat. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. See Braise. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Stupid. [ Obs. ] Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Giddy; rash. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Having an impaired intellect; whimsical; extremely foolish; crazy; as, crackbrained notions. Pope.
Syn. -- idiotic. [ 1913 Webster + WordNet 1.5 +PJC ]

a. Stupid; doltish. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]