brain·storm

(brān′stôrm′)

1. A sudden clever plan or idea.

2. A sudden, violent disturbance of the mind.

v. brain·stormed, brain·storm·ing, brain·storms

v.intr.

To engage in or organize brainstorming.

v.tr.

1. To consider or investigate (an issue, for example) by brainstorming.

2. To think of or produce (a solution to a problem, for example) by brainstorming.

brain′storm′er n.

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

brainstorm

(ˈbreɪnˌstɔːm)

1. (Pathology) a severe outburst of excitement, often as the result of a transitory disturbance of cerebral activity

2. informal Brit a sudden mental aberration

3. informal another word for brainwave

4. a session of intensive discussion to solve problems or generate ideas

(Pathology) to hold a brainstorming session

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

brain•storm

(ˈbreɪnˌstɔrm)
n.

1. a sudden inspiration or idea.

2. a fit of mental confusion or excitement.

3. brainstorming.

v.i.

4. to engage in brainstorming.

v.t.

5. to subject (a problem) to brainstorming.

[1890–95]

brain′storm`er, n.

brainstorm

- By the 1890s, it was a medical term for "mental explosion".

See also related terms for medical term.

ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:

Noun	1.	brainstorm - the clear (and often sudden) understanding of a complex situation brainwave, insight discernment, savvy, understanding, apprehension - the cognitive condition of someone who understands; "he has virtually no understanding of social cause and effect" light - mental understanding as an enlightening experience; "he finally saw the light"; "can you shed light on this problem?" revelation - an enlightening or astonishing disclosure breakthrough, find, discovery - a productive insight flash - a sudden brilliant understanding; "he had a flash of intuition"
Verb	1.	brainstorm - try to solve a problem by thinking intensely about it 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; "I've been thinking all day and getting nowhere"

brainstorm

noun

A sudden exciting thought:

inspiration.

Informal: brain wave.

Translations

brainstorm

[ˈbreɪnstɔːm]

A. N

1. (Brit) (fig) → ataque m de locura, frenesí m

2. (US) = brainwave

B. VI hacer una puesta en común de ideas y sugerencias

C. VT [+ ideas] → poner en común

Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005

brainstorm

[ˈbreɪnstɔː^rm]

(British) (= moment of madness) → moment m d'égarement

(US) (= brainwave) → idée f de génie

vi → faire du brainstorming

vt [+ ideas] → explorer

Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005

brainstorm

[ˈbreɪnˌstɔːm] n (Brit) (fig) → attacco di pazzia (Am) = brainwave

Mentioned in

References in classic literature

If you can, you'll save me from a brainstorm. Cut loose, and don't be afraid you'll bore me.

View in context

Key infractions in this research include absence of facilitators during group brainstorms, sessions lasting significantly less than thirty minutes, small groups composed of significantly fewer than ten people, and lack of brainstorm training.

These later ideas that often arrive after prolonged ideageneration (Osborn (1963) recommended 30 minutes or more of group brainstorms) will also lead to novelty (a measure of idea quality in divergent thinking).

A Revival of Osborn's Original Propositions: The Role of Inspirational Facilitation in Divergent Thinking Effectiveness

The three-day event, which is being organised under the theme 'UAE brainstorms for a better world', from November 9, will provide a major platform for participants to focus on the most pressing global issues and recommend appropriate solutions, which will then be taken up at the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos in 2015.

The 'UAE brainstorms for a better world' campaign has been launched within the framework of the country's relentless pursuit to contribute towards providing innovative solutions to global humanitarian challenges, in partnership with the Summit on the Global Agenda.

All set for global agenda summit

I have seen some brilliant videos on YouTube on how to conduct successful brainstorms, and I urge readers interested in this method to tap into these resources, but I do want to share a couple of pointers on how to run a successful brainstorming exercise: 1).

Generating great ideas--Part II

The only brainstorm leadership training of its kind, SmartStorming transforms workshop participants into brainstorming experts, armed with a range of problem solving strategies, creative thinking exercises, brainstorming activities and leadership skills necessary for planning and leading highly effective brainstorms.

SmartStorming to be Featured at 2011 Worldwide Partners Creative Summit in Krakow, Poland

Rob Baldry, head of marketing at Corus Hotels, which conducted the study, said, 'Our research shows clearly that businesses appreciate the value that effective brainstorms can bring, but have been turned off them by poor past experiences.'

Brainstorming sessions should start with venue

This literature rarely addresses the question of whether or not generating ideas is, or should be, the primary effectiveness criterion for face-to-face brainstorms. Objective indicators of idea generation are portrayed as the only legitimate effectiveness outcomes, and most experimenters portray the number of ideas generated per person as the sole effectiveness outcome.

Brainstorming groups in context: effectiveness in a product design firm

These questions can be generated through both scheduled and spontaneous question brainstorms. Similarly, a company attempting to empower employees to solve problems and make continuous improvements must do the same with solution brainstorms.

Brainstorming: the common thread in TQM, empowerment, re-engineering and continuous improvement

Valacich, "Computer Brainstorms: More Heads Are Better Than One," Journal of Applied Psychology 78 (August 1993): 532.

Effective meetings through electronic brainstorming

A new version of the BrainStorm software the 'thought assistant' program, includes a new 'mind-reader' feature that allows users to publish their thoughts onto web pages enabling others to see inside their heads.

BrainStorm introduces 'mind-reader' output. (IT News)