- informal a sudden inspiration or idea
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
brainwave /ˈbreɪnˌweɪv/ n
ˈbrain ˌwave, n. [countable]
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026- PhysiologyUsually, brain waves. [plural] electrical currents or force given off by the brain when it is active:a special device to record the activity of brain waves during dreaming.
- brainstorm (def. 1).
brain′ wave′,
- Usually, brain waves. [Med.]electrical potentials or impulses given off by brain tissue. Cf. alpha rhythm, beta rhythm, delta rhythm.
- [Informal.]a sudden idea or inspiration;
brainstorm. - 1865–70
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
brain wave n
- any of the fluctuations of electrical potential in the brain as represented on an electroencephalogram. They vary in frequency from 1 to 30 hertz
See also alpha rhythm, beta rhythm, delta rhythm
'brainwave' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):