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2brain verb 1 : to kill by smashing the skull

2 : to hit on the head

brain·child noun : a product of one's creative imagination

brain death noun : final cessation of activity in the central nervous system esp. as indicated by a flat electroencephalogram

— brain–dead adjective

brain drain noun : the departure of educated or professional people from one country, sector, or field to another usu. for better pay or living conditions

brain·less adjective : lacking intelligence

brain·storm noun : a sudden inspiration or idea

— brainstorm verb

brain·teas·er noun : a challenging puzzle

brain·wash·ing noun 1 : a forcible indoctrination to induce someone to give up basic political, social, or religious beliefs and attitudes and to accept contrasting regimented ideas

2 : persuasion by propaganda or salesmanship

— brain·wash verb

brain wave noun 1 : BRAINSTORM

2 : rhythmic fluctuations of voltage between parts of the brain; also : a current produced by brain waves

brainy adjective : having or showing a well-developed intellect

Synonyms

alert, bright, brilliant, clever, intelligent, keen, nimble, quick, quick-witted, sharp, smart—more at INTELLIGENT

braise verb braised; brais·ing : to cook (meat) slowly in fat and little moisture in a closed pot

1brake noun : a common bracken fern

2brake noun : rough or wet land heavily overgrown (as with thickets or reeds)

Synonyms

brushwood, chaparral, coppice, covert, thicket—more at THICKET

3brake noun : a device for slowing or stopping motion esp. by friction

— brake·less adjective

4brake verb braked; brak·ing 1 : to slow or stop by or as if by a brake

2 : to apply a brake

Synonyms

decelerate, retard, slow—more at SLOW

brake·man noun : a train crew member who inspects the train and assists the conductor

bram·ble noun : any of a large genus of prickly shrubs (as a blackberry) related to the roses; also : any rough prickly shrub or vine

bram·bly adjective : like or full of brambles

Synonyms

prickly, scratchy, thorny—more at SCRATCHY

bran noun : the edible broken husks of cereal grain sifted from flour or meal

1branch noun [ORIGIN: ME, fr. AF branche, fr. LL branca paw]

1 : a natural subdivision (as a bough or twig) of a plant stem

2 : a division (as of an antler or a river) related to a whole like a plant branch to its stem

3 : a discrete element of a complex system: as

a : a separate but dependent part of a central organization

b : a division of a family descended from one ancestor

— branched adjective

Synonyms

affiliate, chapter, local—more at CHAPTER

2branch verb 1 : to develop branches

2 : to spring out (as from a main stem) : DIVERGE

3 : to extend activities

Synonyms

diverge, fan, radiate—more at RADIATE

usually branch out diverge, divide, fork, separate—more at SEPARATE

1brand noun 1 : a piece of charred or burning wood

2 a : a mark made (as by burning) usu. to identify

b : a mark of disgrace : STIGMA

3 : a class of goods identified as the product of a particular firm or producer

4 : a distinctive kind

Synonyms

blot, smirch, spot, stain, stigma, taint—more at STAIN

2brand verb 1 : to mark with a brand

2 : STIGMATIZE

bran·dish verb : to shake or wave menacingly

brand–new adjective : conspicuously new and unused

Synonyms

fresh, pristine, virgin—more at FRESH

new, spick-and-span, unused—more at NEW

bran·dy noun, plural brandies [ORIGIN: short for brandywine, fr. D brandewijn, fr. MD brantwijn, fr. brant distilled + wijn wine]

: a liquor distilled from wine or fermented fruit juice

— brandy verb

brash adjective 1 : prone to act in a rash, impetuous manner

2 : aggressively self-assertive

— brash·ly adverb

— brash·ness noun

Synonyms

[1] foolhardy, madcap, overbold, overconfident, reckless—more at FOOLHARDY

[2] arch, bold, brazen, cheeky, cocky, fresh, impertinent, impudent, insolent, nervy, sassy, saucy—more at NERVY

brass