brains

B3R1A1I1N1S1
/bɹeɪnz/

noun

The substance of a brain, as a material or foodstuff.

“Who's the brains behind this operation?”

CommonScrabble 8
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Meanings

brains1

noun
  1. pluralplural of brain
nounbrains pl (plural only)
  1. pluralplural onlyThe 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)
  2. informalpluralplural onlyThe figurative substance of a brain: mental ability, intelligence.

    Sadly, I got my brains from my mom and my looks from the mailman.

    1 more example

    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
  3. informalpluralplural onlywith definite articleThe intelligent person or people in a group: the director, planner, administrator, etc.

    Who's the brains behind this operation?

    2 more examples

    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

    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
verb
  1. indicativepresentsingularthird personthird-person singular simple present indicative of brain

Brains2

proper noun
  1. pluralplural of Brain

Synonyms & antonyms

Also see
intellectintelligencemind

Translations

Bulgarian акъл, ум
  • акъл (akăl)(informal) intelligence, aptitude
  • ум (um)(informal, with “the”) the intelligent person or people in a group: the director, planner, administrator, etc.
  • мозък (mozăk)as food
Esperanto cerbaĵo
  • cerbaĵoas food
French cervelle, cervelle
  • cervelle(informal) intelligence, aptitude
  • cervelleas food
Hungarian ész, gógyi
  • ész(informal) intelligence, aptitude
  • gógyi(informal) intelligence, aptitude
  • ész(informal, with “the”) the intelligent person or people in a group: the director, planner, administrator, etc.
  • agy(informal, with “the”) the intelligent person or people in a group: the director, planner, administrator, etc.
  • észlény(informal, with “the”) the intelligent person or people in a group: the director, planner, administrator, etc.
  • nagyágyú(informal, with “the”) the intelligent person or people in a group: the director, planner, administrator, etc.
  • koponya(informal, with “the”) the intelligent person or people in a group: the director, planner, administrator, etc.
  • értelmi szerző(informal, with “the”) the intelligent person or people in a group: the director, planner, administrator, etc.
  • agytröszt(informal, with “the”) the intelligent person or people in a group: the director, planner, administrator, etc.
  • agyvelőas food
  • velőas food
Italian testa pensante
  • testa pensante(informal, with “the”) the intelligent person or people in a group: the director, planner, administrator, etc.
Polish móżdżek
  • móżdżekas food
Russian мозги́
  • мозги́ (mozgí)as food
Spanish seso, sesera
  • seso(informal) intelligence, aptitude
  • sesera(informal) intelligence, aptitude
  • mollera(informal) intelligence, aptitude
  • entendederas(informal) intelligence, aptitude

Rhymes & wordplay

Rhymes with brains

remainsgainsplainslanesgrainspainsmainsKeynesrainsstainsHainescanesDanesreinspanesmanescremainsplum rains
All rhymes →
Cite this entry
APA

brains. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/brains

MLA

“brains.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/brains. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “brains,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/brains.

Source: brains on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.