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brain-dead. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word
brain-dead, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say
brain-dead in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word
brain-dead you have here. The definition of the word
brain-dead will help you to be more precise and correct when speaking or writing your texts. Knowing the definition of
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English
Etymology
From brain + dead.
Pronunciation
Adjective
brain-dead (comparative more brain-dead, superlative most brain-dead)
- (medicine, not comparable) Having an irreversible loss of brain function and cessation of brain activity.
2010 February 22, Michael S. Schmidt, Karen Zraick, “Hit and Run in Brooklyn Leaves One Brain-Dead”, in The New York Times, →ISSN:An employee of the mayor's office was declared brain-dead on Sunday morning after she and another woman were struck by a hit-and-run driver while crossing Flatbush Avenue in Brooklyn, the authorities said.
- (colloquial) Having no useful thoughts; stupid; ditzy.
2003 May 13, Mark Baard, quoting Marvin Minsky, “AI Founder Blasts Modern Research”, in Wired, →ISSN:"AI has been brain-dead since the 1970s," said AI guru Marvin Minsky in a recent speech at Boston University. Minsky co-founded the MIT Artificial Intelligence Laboratory in 1959 with John McCarthy.
Usage notes
- Brain-dead is occasionally used to describe a person in a coma. This may cause confusion because in formal medical use brain-dead means dead rather than comatose.
Translations
in medicine: having irreversible cessation of brain activity
colloquially: having no useful thoughts
Noun
brain-dead (plural brain-deads)
- (derogatory, informal) An unintelligent person.
See also