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brainstorm

verb
/ˈbɹeɪnstɔːm/UK/ˈbɹeɪnstɔɹm/US

Etymology

From brain + storm. In the sense of "problem-solve", devised as a method of group creative problem-solving by advertising executive Alex F. Osborn and his employees, who coined the term based on the image of using "the brain to storm a problem". First use appears c. 1945. In the sense of "seizure, convulsion, brain activity", from the unrelated idea that it resembles a storm in the brain. First use appears c. 1861.

  1. derived from *(s)twerH-✻ — “to agitate, stir up; to propel; to urge on”
  2. derived from *sturmaz✻ — “storm”
  3. inherited from *sturm✻ — “storm”
  4. derived from storm — “tempest, storm; attack; storm of arrows; disquiet, disturbance, tumult, uproar; onrush, rush”
  5. inherited from storm — “disturbed state of the atmosphere; heavy precipitation; battle, conflict; attack”
  6. compounded as brainstorm — “brain + storm”

Definitions

  1. To investigate something, or solve a problem using brainstorming.

  2. To participate in a brainstorming session.

  3. To think up (ideas)

    To think up (ideas); especially, to do so creatively.

    • I need you to brainstorm some suggestions for next week's activity schedule.
  4. ›+ 4 more definitions

    1. A sudden thought, particularly one that solves a long-standing problem.

      • I had been working on the problem for weeks, and then I had a brainstorm and saw that the solution was easy.

    2. A session of brainstorming, investigating a problem to try to find solutions.

    3. An unexpected mental error.

    4. Alternative form of brain storm (“activity in the brain, such as a seizure or…

      Alternative form of brain storm (“activity in the brain, such as a seizure or convulsion”).

      • electrical brainstorm

The neighborhood

Derived

brainstormer, brainstormy

Vish — recursive loop

No curated loop yet for brainstorm. Loops are being traced one word at a time while the ingestion pipeline matures.

sense glosses and etymology drawn from English Wiktionary · source · CC-BY-SA