Cerebrate means to use the mind or to think actively, relating to the cerebrum, the part of the brain responsible for thought. The term was coined in the 19th century, contrasting with 'unconscious cerebration'.
Cerebrate means to use the mind or to think actively, relating to the cerebrum, the part of the brain responsible for thought. The term was coined in the 19th century, contrasting with 'unconscious cerebration'.
| Word | cerebrate |
|---|---|
| Date | July 12, 2018 |
| Type | verb |
| Syllables | SAIR-uh-brayt |
| Etymology | 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. |
| Examples | "You can't cerebrate over what you can't see, which therefore becomes an object of loathing and mistrust." — Howard Portnoy, Examiner.com, 25 June 2012 "I can never decide if Derek is incredibly shallow or so deep that he's cerebrating on two levels at once and I'm privy only to the superficial one." — Susan B. Johnson, Spirit Willing, 2006 |
| Definition | : to use the mind : think |
Tags: wordoftheday::verb
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