brain-storm

Noun

brainstorm (plural brainstorms)

1. (US) 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.

   Synonyms:

   brainwave

2. A session of brainstorming, investigating a problem to try to find solutions.
3. (UK) An unexpected mental error.
   • A terrible fielding error from Tony Graffanino proved costly. … Aaron Rowand collected an RBI double to get them off the mark before Graffanino's brainstorm. Juan Uribe hit a roller to the second baseman, who let the potential inning-ending double-play ball roll under his glove, leaving runners at...2005 October 5, "Iguchi hit ruins Red Sox's night", BBC Online, 5 October

See all 6 meanings of brainstorm

Noun

brain storm (plural brain storms)

1. A seizure, convulsion, or similar incident of abnormal brain activity.
   • He was so puffing and fuming that he had to pull up for breath, and take his hat off to ease the smoking hot pressure of a brainstorm.1938, Norman Lindsay, Age of Consent, 1st Australian edition, Sydney, N.S.W.: Ure Smith, published 1962, →OCLC, page 76