1. a sudden clever idea or inspiration
Usage: informal; chiefly British
2. an electrical impulse in the brain; a brain wave recorded by an electroencephalograph
Usage: technical; often used in plural

Examples

• She had a brainwave about how to solve the math problem.
• His brainwave saved the company thousands of dollars.
• I just had a brainwave—let's try a different approach.
• The doctor monitored the patient's brainwaves during the sleep study.
• Brainwaves can indicate different states of consciousness.
• That was a real brainwave; I never would have thought of it myself.