mind

[ mahynd ]

noun

1. (in a human or other conscious being) the element, part, substance, or process that reasons, thinks, feels, wills, perceives, judges, etc.:

   the processes of the human mind.

   Synonyms: reason

2. Psychology. the totality of conscious and unconscious mental processes and activities.
3. intellect or understanding, as distinguished from the faculties of feeling and willing; intelligence.
4. a particular instance of the intellect or intelligence, as in a person.
5. a person considered with reference to intellectual power:

   the greatest minds of the twentieth century.

6. intellectual power or ability.
7. reason, sanity, or sound mental condition:

   to lose one's mind.

8. a way of thinking and feeling; disposition; temper:

   a liberal mind.

9. a state of awareness or remembrance:

   The poem puts me in mind of experiences both new and forgotten.

10. opinion, view, or sentiments:

    to change one's mind.

    Synonyms: wish, liking, penchant, proclivity, leaning, bent

11. inclination or desire:

    to be of a mind to listen.

    Synonyms: intent

12. purpose, intention, or will:

    Let me know your mind in this matter before Tuesday.

13. psychic or spiritual being, as opposed to matter.
14. a conscious or intelligent agency or being:

    an awareness of a mind ordering the universe.

15. remembrance or recollection; memory:

    Former days were called to mind.

16. attention; thoughts:

    He can't keep his mind on his studies.

17. Chiefly South Midland and Southern U.S. notice; attention:

    When he's like that, just pay him no mind.

18. Roman Catholic Church. a commemoration of a person's death, especially by a Requiem Mass. Compare month's mind ( def ), year's mind ( def ).
19. (initial capital letter) Also called Divine Mind. Christian Science. God; the incorporeal source of life, substance, and intelligence. Compare mortal mind ( def ).

verb (used with object)

1. to pay attention to.
2. to heed or obey (a person, advice, instructions, etc.).

   Synonyms: mark

3. to apply oneself or attend to:

   to mind one's own business.

4. to look after; take care of; tend:

   to mind the baby.

5. to be careful, cautious, or wary about:

   Mind what you say.

6. to feel concern at; care about.
7. to feel disturbed or inconvenienced by; object to (usually used in negative or interrogative constructions):

   Would you mind handing me that book?

8. to regard as concerning oneself or as mattering:

   Don't mind his bluntness.

9. Dialect.
   1. to perceive or notice.
   2. to remember.
   3. to remind.

verb (used without object)

1. to pay attention.
2. to obey.
3. to take notice, observe, or understand (used chiefly in the imperative):

   Mind now, I want you home by twelve.

4. to be careful or wary.
5. to care, feel concern, or object (often used in negative or interrogative constructions):

   Mind if I go? Don't mind if I do.

6. to regard a thing as concerning oneself or as mattering:

   You mustn't mind about their gossiping.

mind

/ maɪnd /

noun

1. the human faculty to which are ascribed thought, feeling, etc; often regarded as an immaterial part of a person
2. intelligence or the intellect, esp as opposed to feelings or wishes
3. recollection or remembrance; memory

   it comes to mind

4. the faculty of original or creative thought; imagination

   it's all in the mind

5. a person considered as an intellectual being

   the great minds of the past

6. opinion or sentiment

   to change one's mind

   to speak one's mind

   we are of the same mind

   to have a mind of one's own

   to know one's mind

7. condition, state, or manner of feeling or thought

   no peace of mind

   his state of mind

8. an inclination, desire, or purpose

   I have a mind to go

9. attention or thoughts

   keep your mind on your work

10. a sound mental state; sanity (esp in the phrase out of one's mind )
11. intelligence, as opposed to material things

    the mind of the universe

12. (in Cartesian philosophy) one of two basic modes of existence, the other being matter
13. blow someone's mind slang.
    1. to cause someone to have a psychedelic experience
    2. to astound or surprise someone
14. give someone a piece of one's mind
    to criticize or censure (someone) frankly or vehemently
15. in two minds or of two minds
    undecided; wavering

    he was in two minds about marriage

16. make up one's mind
    to decide (something or to do something)

    he made up his mind to go

17. on one's mind
    in one's thoughts
18. put one in mind of
    to remind (one) of

verb

1. when tr, may take a clause as object to take offence at

   do you mind if I smoke? I don't mind

2. to pay attention to (something); heed; notice

   to mind one's own business

3. tr; takes a clause as object to make certain; ensure

   mind you tell her

4. tr to take care of; have charge of

   to mind the shop

5. when tr, may take a clause as object to be cautious or careful about (something)

   mind how you go

   mind your step

6. tr to obey (someone or something); heed

   mind your father!

7. to be concerned (about); be troubled (about)

   never mind your hat

   never mind about your hat

   never mind

8. tr; passive; takes an infinitive to be intending or inclined (to do something)

   clearly he was not minded to finish the story

9. dialect.
   tr to remember

   do ye mind his name?

10. tr to remind

    that minds me of another story

11. mind you
    an expression qualifying a previous statement mentalnoeticphrenic

    Dogs are nice. Mind you, I don't like all dogs

Other Words From

• sub·mind noun
• un·mind·ing adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of mind¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English noun minde, miende, mende, Old English gemynd “memory, remembrance, mind”; cognate with Gothic gamunds; akin to Latin mēns (stem ment- ) “mind,” Greek manía “madness”; verb derivative of the noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of mind¹

Old English gemynd mind; related to Old High German gimunt memory

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. bear / keep in mind, to remember:

   Bear in mind that the newspaper account may be in error.

2. blow one's mind, Slang.
   1. to change one's perceptions, awareness, etc., as through the use of drugs or narcotics.
   2. to overwhelm a person with intense excitement, pleasure, astonishment, or dismay:

      Cool jazz really blows my mind.

3. cross one's mind, to occur suddenly to one:

   A disturbing thought crossed her mind.

4. give someone a piece of one's mind, Informal. to rebuke, reprimand, or scold sharply:

   I'll give him a piece of my mind for telling such a lie!

5. have a good mind to, to feel tempted or inclined to:

   I have a good mind to leave you here all alone.

6. have half a mind to, to be almost decided to; be inclined to.
7. know one's own mind, to be firm in one's intentions, opinions, or plans; have assurance:

   She may be only a child, but she knows her own mind.

8. make up one's mind, to decide; form an opinion or decision; resolve:

   He couldn't make up his mind which course to follow.

9. meeting of minds, complete agreement; accord:

   A meeting of minds between the union and the employer seemed impossible.

10. never mind, don't worry or be troubled; it is of no concern:

    Never mind—the broken glass will be easy to replace.

11. on one's mind, constantly in one's thoughts; of concern to one:

    The approaching trial was on his mind.

12. out of one's mind,
    1. mad; insane:

       You must be out of your mind to say such a ridiculous thing.

    2. totally distracted:

       He's out of his mind with worry.

    3. emotionally overwhelmed:

       out of her mind with joy.

13. presence of mind, ability to think and to remain in control of oneself during a crisis or under stress:

    She had enough presence of mind to remember the license plate of the speeding car.

14. frame of mind. frame of mind.
15. state of mind. state of mind.

More idioms and phrases containing mind

• back of one's mind
• bear in mind
• blow one's mind
• boggle the mind
• bring to mind
• call to mind
• change one's mind
• come to mind
• cross one's mind
• frame of mind
• go out of one's mind
• great minds
• half a mind
• have a good mind to
• in one's mind's eye
• in one's right mind
• know one's own mind
• load off one's mind
• lose one's mind
• make up one's mind
• meeting of the minds
• never mind
• of two minds
• one-track mind
• on one's mind
• open mind
• out of sight (out of mind)
• piece of one's mind
• presence of mind
• prey on (one's mind)
• put one in mind of
• read someone's mind
• set one's mind at rest
• slip one's mind
• speak one's mind
• to my mind

Synonym Study

Mind, intellect, intelligence refer to mental equipment or qualities. Mind is that part of a human being that thinks, feels, and wills, as contrasted with body: His mind was capable of grasping the significance of the problem. Intellect is reasoning power as distinguished from feeling; it is often used in a general sense to characterize high mental ability: to appeal to the intellect, rather than the emotions. Intelligence is ability to learn and to understand; it is also mental alertness or quickness of understanding: A dog has more intelligence than many other animals. Mind, brain, brains may refer to mental capacity. Mind is the philosophical and general term for the center of mental activity, and is therefore used of intellectual powers: a brilliant mind. Brain is properly the physiological term for the organic structure that makes mental activity possible ( The brain is the center of the nervous system. ), but it is often applied, like mind, to intellectual capacity: a fertile brain. Brains is the anatomical word ( the brains of an animal used for food ), but, in popular usage, it is applied to intelligence (particularly of a shrewd, practical nature): To run a business takes brains.

Example Sentences

That path could have moved us away from the failed neoliberal model that both Donald Trump and Bernie Sanders railed against, with very different alternatives in mind.

From Salon

“He needs to be front and center in voters’ minds and when they cast their ballot, and that’s the political maturity test that I think he has yet to meet,” McCuan said.

From Los Angeles Times

I worked with Tony for 18 months and came to feel compassion and respect for his honesty, even as I still held in mind the terrible trail of destruction he had caused.

From BBC

Erin Kilbride from Human Rights Watch is of similar mind - and says, by putting restrictions on employers, the new law will significantly “cut away at the power they have over sex workers”.

From BBC

"To my mind, it would be very wrong for a doctor, or indeed anybody, to suggest to a person that they should seek assisted dying," she said.

From BBC

Related Words

• attention
• brain
• consciousness
• genius
• head
• imagination
• instinct
• intellect
• judgment
• mentality
• perception
• psyche
• sense
• soul
• spirit
• talent
• thought
• wisdom