genius Definition
gen·ius (jēn′yəs; also, esp. for 1-2, jē′nē əs)
noun pl. gen′·iuses
- according to ancient Roman belief, a guardian spirit assigned to a person at birth; tutelary deity
- the guardian spirit of any person, place, etc.
- either of two spirits, one good and one evil, supposed to influence one's destiny
- a person considered as having strong influence over another
- jinni
- the personification of a quality
- particular character or essential spirit or nature of a nation, place, age, etc.
- a great natural ability (for a particular activity); strong disposition or inclination
- great mental capacity and inventive ability; esp., great and original creative ability in some art, science, etc.
- a person having such capacity or ability
- popularly any person with a very high IQ
Etymology: L, guardian spirit, natural ability, genius < base of genere, gignere, to produce: see genus
genius Synonyms
genius
n.
The highest degree of intellectual capacity
ability, talent, intellect, brains, intelligence, brilliance, endowment, precocity, inspiration, imagination, gift, aptitude, faculty, propensity, wisdom, astuteness, penetration, grasp, discernment, acumen, acuteness, percipience, power, capacity, capability, accomplishment, sagacity, subtlety, perspicacity, understanding, reach, sympathy, daemon, afflatus, enthusiasm, creative gift, knack, bent, turn, flair. One having genius, sense 1
gifted person, prodigy, adept, virtuoso, master, maestro, mastermind, intellectual, Einstein, mental giant, Wunderkind (German), brain*, intellect*, rocket scientist*, whiz*, wizard*; see also artist 2, author 1, master 3.Character or characteristics
nature, taste, disposition; see character 1, 2. See syn. study at talent.
genius Usage Examples
Converse of object
- songwrite: Or it could be the fact that its songwriting genius is pretty much untouchable.
- preside: The presiding genius of their crew is the one-legged pirate turned sea cook, Long John Silver.
- misunderstand: The artist as a rebel battling against society, a tortured and misunderstood genius, has a powerful hold on our collective imagination.
- possess: It is beyond question closely akin to that which has possessed the religious geniuses of all ages.
- recognize: They exist today only because a cat-lover who recognized pure genius was thoughtful enough to save them for posterity.
Adjective modifier
- comic: Comic genius Ivor Cutler, who died on Friday.
- inventive: Britain's industrial future depends on transforming our inventive genius into manufacturing strength.
- pure: All six episodes from this series are pure genius.
- lyrical: Okay, I'll leave the alliterative wordplay to the true lyrical geniuses.
- mad: I hope these films haven't turned Hitler into some unreal, mad genius.
- tactical: Plan B " Tactical genius Sven has a plan in case Crouch gets injured, " says Martin Myers.
Modifies a noun
- locus: One voice: the genius loci of science fiction.
- inventor: The house was designed in 1680 by Robert Hooke the genius inventor, who developed the constant velocity joint among many other innovations.
- quot: In the televised other risks detailed mad genius quot place on the.
Noun used with modifier
- footballing: Here are all the latest facts about the footballing genius.
- maverick: Put simply, Neil Young is one of the last great maverick geniuses of rock, and bone fide living legend to boot.
- chess: According to British chess grandmaster Nigel Short, the reclusive and eccentric chess genius Bobby Fischer is actively playing chess online.
- maths: If you are not six sigma trained then this book is no good for you unless you are a maths genius.
- comedy: Or maybe you're a budding comedy genius with an idea for a comedy show?
- pop: Also, there are some genuine flashes of pop genius here, albeit somewhat melancholy ones.
Print this Page
Suggestion Box
Send to Friend
