brainwash

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English

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English Wikipedia has an article on:
Wikipedia

Etymology

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From brain +‎ wash, calque of Chinese 洗腦洗脑 (xǐnǎo), literally "to wash the brain". Usage via U.S. military during Korean War.

Pronunciation

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Noun

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brainwash (plural brainwashes)

  1. A distorting effect upon one's memory, belief, or ideas, as by propaganda.

Translations

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Verb

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brainwash (third-person singular simple present brainwashes, present participle brainwashing, simple past and past participle brainwashed)

  1. (psychology) To affect one's mind by using extreme mental pressure or any other mind-affecting process. (e.g. hypnosis)
  2. (figuratively, dated) To take from an electronically controlled machine its stored-up information; to erase a computer's programming. (1960)
  3. To persuade completely and forcibly.
    The news media brainwashed many people.

Derived terms

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Translations

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