cerebral

/səˈriːbrəl/ (bre, ipa) · [sɚˈibrəl] /səˈriːbrəl/ (ame, ipa) · [sɚˈibrəl] /sə-ˈrē-brəl How to pronounce cerebral (audio) ˈser-ə- How to pronounce cerebral (audio) ˈse-rə-/ (ame, mw)

cerebral — 形容詞

  • cerebralpositive
  • more cerebralcomparative
  • most cerebralsuperlative

1. connected with the brain, especially the cerebrum

1.形容詞C2
釋義

腦部的

與大腦或大腦皮層有關的

connected with the brain, especially the cerebrum

例句

The scan showed swelling in the cerebral arteries near Bao's left temple.

掃描顯示 Bao 左側太陽穴附近的腦部動脈有腫脹。

medical collocation: cerebral arteries

Doctors moved Iker after the fall because they feared a cerebral bleed.

醫師在 Iker 跌倒後立刻替他轉院，因為他們擔心出現腦出血。

medical event: cerebral bleed

同義詞
  • brain

    less formal and often used in everyday descriptions rather than medical phrasing

  • neural

    broader; can refer to the whole nervous system, not only the brain

  • neurological

    usually relates to disorders or the nervous system more generally

反義詞
  • peripheral

    relates to nerves outside the brain and spinal cord

  • bodily

    general body-related term, not specifically tied to the brain

文法句型

cerebral + noun (artery, tissue, cortex, palsy)

cerebral function

用法筆記

Used mainly in medical or scientific writing before nouns such as artery, tissue, cortex, or palsy. Distinguish from senses 2 and 3, which are about thought and personality rather than the body.

常見錯誤

❌The lecture gave a cerebral answer to the problem.
✅The lecture gave an intellectual answer to the problem.
💡In this sense, cerebral refers to the brain as an organ, not to clever thinking.

2. requiring close thought and mental effort, with more emphasis on ideas than on e

2.形容詞C1
釋義

思辨的

需要仔細思考而非憑感受的

requiring close thought and mental effort, with more emphasis on ideas than on emotion

例句

Romi enjoys cerebral puzzles during long train rides home.

Romi 喜歡在回家火車上玩思辨型的益智題。

collocation: cerebral puzzles

The film is more cerebral than emotional, so some viewers find it cold.

這部電影比起煽情更偏思辨，所以有些觀眾覺得它偏冷。

contrast: more cerebral than emotional

同義詞
  • intellectual

    broader and can describe both ideas and people; cerebral often suggests less emotion

  • analytical

    focuses on breaking ideas into parts rather than on an overall intellectual tone

  • thought-provoking

    emphasizes making people think, not necessarily the cool or serious style

反義詞
  • emotional

    centres on feeling rather than thought

  • instinctive

    guided by immediate feeling instead of analysis

  • sentimental

    shows or seeks tender emotion rather than cool reflection

文法句型

be cerebral

cerebral + noun (film, puzzle, debate, novel)

more cerebral than + adjective

用法筆記

Often describes books, films, debates, games, or humour that reward analysis. Distinguish from sense 3: sense 2 describes the activity, work, or style itself, while sense 3 describes a person or personal manner.

常見錯誤

❌The speech was cerebral because it made everyone cry.
✅The speech was emotional because it made everyone cry.
💡Cerebral stresses ideas and analysis, not strong feeling.

3. showing intelligence and a taste for serious ideas, with little interest in sent

3.形容詞C1
釋義

知性的

聰明沉穩且偏愛理性思考的

showing intelligence and a taste for serious ideas, with little interest in sentimentality

例句

Christopher has a cerebral style that can seem distant at parties.

Christopher 有一種知性的風格，在派對上有時會顯得疏離。

cerebral style describing a person

Folake's cerebral humour made the interview lively without turning silly.

Folake 那種知性的幽默，讓訪談生動卻不流於胡鬧。

cerebral humour for a person's tone

同義詞
  • intellectual

    the closest general synonym; cerebral often adds a cooler, less emotional impression

  • thoughtful

    can also mean considerate, so it is warmer than cerebral

  • scholarly

    suggests academic study more strongly than cerebral does

反義詞
  • impulsive

    acts on immediate feeling rather than careful thought

  • frivolous

    lacking seriousness in thought or taste

  • sentimental

    guided more by tender feeling than by ideas

文法句型

be cerebral

cerebral + noun (style, friend, humour, person)

用法筆記

Usually describes a person's manner, taste, or social style, often suggesting that they focus on ideas more than emotional display. Distinguish from sense 2, which describes a film, debate, or other activity rather than the person.

常見錯誤

❌My manager is cerebral, so she must be cold and uncaring.
✅My manager is cerebral, but she is still warm and supportive.
💡Cerebral suggests an intellectual style, not a lack of kindness.