brain cell
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brain cell
The biological term for a nerve cell (neuron) in the brain that is responsible for processing and transmitting information.
Alkoholkonsum kann zur Zerstörung von Gehirnzellen führen.
Alcohol consumption can lead to the destruction of brain cells.
brain cell
Used colloquially and often in the plural to refer to a person's mind or ability to think.
Streng mal deine Gehirnzellen an, dann findest du die Lösung bestimmt!
Use your brain cells, and you’ll definitely find the solution!
The word is a simple compound of 'das Gehirn' (the brain) and 'die Zelle' (the cell). So it literally refers to a cell located in the brain.
Jede Gehirnzelle ist mit Tausenden anderen vernetzt.
Each brain cell is connected to thousands of others.
You can recognize the biological meaning from a scientific or medical context. The colloquial meaning of 'Verstand' (mind/intellect) is usually used in the plural and in informal situations, often as an instruction to think.
Die Forschung untersucht, wie neue Gehirnzellen gebildet werden.
Research is investigating how new brain cells are formed.
In the colloquial meaning, the fixed expression 'seine Gehirnzellen anstrengen' (to strain/use one's brain cells) is very common. It simply means 'intensiv nachdenken' (to think hard).
Ich muss meine Gehirnzellen wirklich anstrengen, um mich an seinen Namen zu erinnern.
I really have to use my brain cells to remember his name.
mind / reason
Verstand directly and neutrally refers to the ability to think and judge. Gehirnzelle can refer to the same ability colloquially, often humorously or mockingly. Verstand fits a factual statement; in a joking comment about clever or foolish behavior, Gehirnzelle may be more appropriate.
Benutz wenigstens eine Gehirnzelle, bevor du den Plan ausprobierst.
Use at least one brain cell before you try out the plan.
Sein Verstand sagte ihm, dass dieser Plan nicht funktionieren würde.
His reason told him that this plan would not work.
