BRAINSTORM

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does brainstorm mean? 

• BRAINSTORM (noun)
  The noun BRAINSTORM has 1 sense:

1. the clear (and often sudden) understanding of a complex situation

  Familiarity information: BRAINSTORM used as a noun is very rare.

• BRAINSTORM (verb)
  The verb BRAINSTORM has 1 sense:

1. try to solve a problem by thinking intensely about it

  Familiarity information: BRAINSTORM used as a verb is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• BRAINSTORM (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

The clear (and often sudden) understanding of a complex situation

Classified under:

Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents

Synonyms:

brainstorm; brainwave; insight

Hypernyms ("brainstorm" is a kind of...):

apprehension; discernment; savvy; understanding (the cognitive condition of someone who understands)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "brainstorm"):

light (mental understanding as an enlightening experience)

revelation (an enlightening or astonishing disclosure)

breakthrough; discovery; find (a productive insight)

flash (a sudden brilliant understanding)

Derivation:

brainstorm (try to solve a problem by thinking intensely about it)

• BRAINSTORM (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they brainstorm    ... he / she / it brainstorms   
Past simple: brainstormed   
Past participle: brainstormed   
-ing form: brainstorming   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Try to solve a problem by thinking intensely about it

Classified under:

Verbs of thinking, judging, analyzing, doubting

Hypernyms (to "brainstorm" is one way to...):

cerebrate; cogitate; think (use or exercise the mind or one's power of reason in order to make inferences, decisions, or arrive at a solution or judgments)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s

Derivation:

brainstorm (the clear (and often sudden) understanding of a complex situation)

brainstorming (a group problem-solving technique in which members spontaneously share ideas and solutions)

 Context examples 

Family questions that you’ve pondered will also bring answers, so by all means, brainstorm for many possible options and choose the best

(AstrologyZone.com, by Susan Miller)