cerebral
/səˈɹiː.bɹəl/
Group 1Difficulty 2/3
Definitions
- (adjective)
- Intellectual rather than emotional or physical GRE
- (adjective)
- Relating to the brain
Example in Context
The professor's cerebral approach to literature often alienated students who preferred more visceral engagement with texts.
Synonyms
brainyintellectualanalytical
Etymology
Relating to the brain, emphasizing intellect over emotion.
- cerebrum (Latin) — brain
Memory Aid
🧠Sounds like “sir liberal”
Picture a SIR wearing glasses, reading philosophy — he's very CEREBRAL and LIBERAL with thoughts!
Visual Association
🧠A person deep in thought, surrounded by floating books and equations, representing intellectual focus.
Semantic Clusters
Synonym Groups
Frequently Asked Questions
What does “cerebral” mean on the GRE?
cerebral (adjective) means “Intellectual rather than emotional or physical”. The professor's cerebral approach to literature often alienated students who preferred more visceral engagement with texts.
How to remember “cerebral” for the GRE?
Mnemonic: “cerebral” sounds like “sir liberal”. Picture a SIR wearing glasses, reading philosophy — he's very CEREBRAL and LIBERAL with thoughts!
What are synonyms for “cerebral”?
Common synonyms: brainy, intellectual, analytical.