no-brainer

no-brainer
Brain Brain (br[=a]n), n. [OE. brain, brein, AS. bragen, br[ae]gen; akin to LG. br["a]gen, bregen, D. brein, and perh. to Gr. bre`gma, brechmo`s, the upper part of head, if [beta] = [phi]. [root]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]

Note: 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. (Zo["o]l.) 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]

Note: 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} (Zo["o]l), 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 {M[ae]andrina} 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]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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  • no-brainer — [[t]no͟ʊ bre͟ɪnə(r)[/t]] no brainers 1) N COUNT If you describe a question or decision as a no brainer, you mean that it is a very easy one to answer or make. [AM, INFORMAL] If it s illegal for someone under 21 to drive, it should be illegal for… …   English dictionary

  • No-brainer — is a term used to denote a problem that allegedly has a very easy solution obvious to all. The term originated in engineering jargon, but grew in popularity during the 1990s and 2000s, and is now common in business environments. The claim that a… …   Wikipedia

  • no-brainer — A market in which it does not take very complex analysis to figure out how securities are going to perform, such as a strong bull market. Bloomberg Financial Dictionary * * * no brainer UK US /ˌnəʊˈbreɪnər/ noun [S] INFORMAL ► something that is… …   Financial and business terms

  • no-brainer — n [singular] a decision that is easy, and that you do not need to think about, used when you want to emphasize that it is really very easy ▪ Joining the savings plan is a no brainer. Just do it …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • no-brainer — I n An easy problem. Now, let me see, do I want to go to the show in Erie, PA or the one in Las Vegas? That s a no brainer. 1970s II n Something easy to figure out and do. Aw, assembling this bike is a no brainer. 1970s …   Historical dictionary of American slang

  • no-brainer —    A decision or choice that requires little or no thought, because the best option is so obvious, is called a no brainer.     The choice was between a cash refund or having the amount credited to my account it was a no brainer! I took the cash! …   English Idioms & idiomatic expressions

  • no-brainer — UK [ˌnəʊ ˈbreɪnə(r)] / US [ˌnoʊ ˈbreɪnər] noun [countable] Word forms no brainer : singular no brainer plural no brainers informal a question or problem that is very easy to deal with …   English dictionary

  • no-brainer — has been used since the 1970s as an informal term meaning ‘an idea or choice that involves hardly any mental effort’: • If this was the first Christmas it would be a no brainer as to what the three kings would turn up with at the manger. Forget… …   Modern English usage

  • no-brainer — n. an easy question that takes no thinking to answer; a simple problem that requires no intellect to solve; a dilemma that requires no pondering to resolve. □ Of course, the question is a no brainer. The answer has to be yes. □ His proposal of… …   Dictionary of American slang and colloquial expressions

  • no-brainer — noun An easy or obvious conclusion, decision, solution, task, etc.; something requiring little or no thought. If the newer version performs as well for half the cost, the decision is a no brainer …   Wiktionary

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