Brain fever

Brain fever
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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  • Brain fever — describes a medical condition where a part of the brain becomes inflamed and causes symptoms that present as fever. The inflammation of brain fever causes acute and chronic changes in the brain tissue, as well as causing mental, emotional, and… …   Wikipedia

  • Brain fever — Fever Fe ver (f[=e] v[ e]r), n. [OE. fever, fefer, AS. fefer, fefor, L. febris: cf. F. fi[ e]vre. Cf. {Febrile}.] 1. (Med.) A diseased state of the system, marked by increased heat, acceleration of the pulse, and a general derangement of the… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • brain fever — brain′ fe ver n. pat meningitis • Etymology: 1825–35 …   From formal English to slang

  • brain-fever bird — noun Etymology: from the resemblance of its cry to the words brain fever : an Indian hawk cuckoo (Cuculus varius) having a loud, shrill, repetitive cry; also : any of several related birds with monotonous cries * * * brain fever bird noun An… …   Useful english dictionary

  • brain fever — noun meningitis caused by bacteria and often fatal • Syn: ↑cerebrospinal meningitis, ↑epidemic meningitis, ↑cerebrospinal fever • Hypernyms: ↑meningitis …   Useful english dictionary

  • brain fever — infection which causes inflammation of the brain …   English contemporary dictionary

  • brain fever. — See cerebrospinal meningitis. [1825 35] * * * …   Universalium

  • brain fever — noun encephalitis or meningitis …   Wiktionary

  • brain-fever — n. Phrenitis, meningitis …   New dictionary of synonyms

  • brain fever — /ˈbreɪn fivə/ (say brayn feevuh) noun → cerebrospinal meningitis …  

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