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cerebrate

verb
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cer·​e·​brate | \ ˈser-ə-ˌbrāt How to pronounce cerebrate (audio) , ˈse-rə- \
cerebrated; cerebrating

Definition of cerebrate

intransitive verb

: to use the mind : think
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Other Words from cerebrate

cerebration \ ˌser-​ə-​ˈbrā-​shən How to pronounce cerebrate (audio) , ˌse-​rə-​ \ noun

Did You Know?

When you think of the human brain, you might think of the cerebrum, the large, fissured upper portion of the brain that is recognized as the neural control center for thought and sensory perception. In 1853, Dr. William Carpenter thought of the cerebrum when he coined unconscious cerebration, a term describing the mental process by which people seem to do the right thing or come up with the right answer without conscious effort. People thought enough of Carpenter's coinage to use it as the basis of cerebrate, though the verb refers to active thinking rather than subconscious processing. Cerebrate, cerebrum, and the related adjective cerebral all derive from the Latin word for "brain," which is cerebrum.

First Known Use of cerebrate

1915, in the meaning defined above

History and Etymology for cerebrate

back-formation from cerebration, from cerebrum

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Time Traveler for cerebrate

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The first known use of cerebrate was in 1915

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Cite this Entry

“Cerebrate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cerebrate. Accessed 20 Apr. 2021.

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More Definitions for cerebrate

cerebrate

intransitive verb
cer·​e·​brate | \ ˈser-ə-ˌbrāt How to pronounce cerebrate (audio) \
cerebrated; cerebrating

Medical Definition of cerebrate

: to use the mind

Other Words from cerebrate

cerebration \ ˌser-​ə-​ˈbrā-​shən How to pronounce cerebrate (audio) \ noun

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