grey matter
"Grey matter" refers both to a critical component of the nervous system and metaphorically to a person's intellectual capabilities.
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Definition
B2Anatomy
(technical, medical)The darker tissue in the brain and spinal cord, made up of nerve cell bodies and dendrites.
Example
- Grey matter is crucial for processing information in the brain.
- In neuroanatomy, grey matter contrasts with white matter.
B2Informal
(colloquial)A person's intelligence or mental ability.
Example
- You need to use your grey matter to solve this puzzle.
- She has a lot of grey matter, making her excellent at problem-solving.
Similar
Terms that have similar or relatively close meanings to "grey matter":