Brain coral

Brain coral
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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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Brain coral — Coral Cor al, n. [Of. coral, F, corail, L. corallum, coralium, fr. Gr. kora llion.] 1. (Zo[ o]l.) The hard parts or skeleton of various Anthozoa, and of a few Hydrozoa. Similar structures are also formed by some Bryozoa. [1913 Webster] Note: The… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • brain coral — n. a massive stony coral (genus Diploria or Meandrina) resembling the surface of a mammalian brain: see CORAL …   English World dictionary

  • Brain coral — Taxobox name = Brain coral image width = 240px image caption = Grooved brain coral, Diploria labyrinthiformis regnum = Animalia phylum = Cnidaria classis = Anthozoa subclassis = Hexacorallia ordo = Scleractinia familia = Faviidae familia… …   Wikipedia

  • brain coral — brain′ cor al n. ivt any reef building coral of the genera Meandrina and Diploria, having a highly convoluted surface • Etymology: 1700–10 …   From formal English to slang

  • brain coral — noun any of several species of coral in the shape of a brain …   Wiktionary

  • brain coral — noun a compact coral with a convoluted surface resembling that of the brain. [Diploria and other genera.] …   English new terms dictionary

  • brain coral — noun massive reef building coral having a convoluted and furrowed surface • Hypernyms: ↑stony coral, ↑madrepore, ↑madriporian coral • Member Holonyms: ↑Maeandra, ↑genus Maeandra …   Useful english dictionary

  • brain coral — noun Date: circa 1711 a massive reef building coral (as genus Diploria) having the surface covered by ridges and furrows …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • brain coral — any of several reef building corals of the genus Meandrina, having a highly convoluted and furrowed surface. [1700 10] * * * …   Universalium

  • Open brain coral — Green open brain coral Scientific classification …   Wikipedia

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