brain wave

noun

plural brain waves

1

a

: rhythmic fluctuations of voltage between parts of the brain resulting in the flow of an electric current

b

: a current produced by brain waves

2

: a flash of inspiration : brainstorm sense 1a

We invited the Hill Holliday ad agency in Boston to collaborate on our cover shoot, and its creative director, Lance Jensen, had a brain wave: wouldn't it be eye-catching for our pages to reflect not just the editorial look of the '60s but also the advertising idiom of the time?

—Tina Brown

Examples of brain wave in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

There’s the new strength coach who, naturally, has altered the brain waves of the entire team. —Brian Hamilton, New York Times, 27 Aug. 2025

The sounds, a mix of low, vibrational hums (similar to the chimes of a sound bowl) and waves crashing on a distant shore, are intended to mirror brain waves to reset circadian rhythms. —Spencer Whaley, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2025

But recent research has reignited interest in brain waves. —Big Think, 20 Aug. 2025

Advertisement Years ago, our lab showed in brain scans that listening to the same piece of music caused people's brain waves to synchronize. —Lindsay A. Fleming, Time, 15 Aug. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1890, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Rhymes for brain wave

• agave
• behave
• concave
• conclave
• enclave
• engrave
• enslave
• forgave
• landgrave
• margrave
• shortwave
• aftershave

Kids Definition

brain wave

noun

: rhythmic changes in voltage between parts of the brain

Medical Definition

brain wave

noun

1

: rhythmic fluctuations of voltage between parts of the brain resulting in the flow of an electric current

2

: a current produced by brain waves compare alpha wave, beta wave