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Definition of mental adjective from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

mental

adjective
 OPAL WOPAL S
 
/ˈmentl/
 
/ˈmentl/
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  1.  
     [usually before noun] connected with or happening in the mind; involving the process of thinking
    • the mental process of remembering
    • Do you have a mental picture of what it will look like?
    • The actor doesn't match the mental image I had of the character.
    • I made a mental note to talk to her about it.
    • He has a complete mental block (= difficulty in understanding or remembering) when it comes to physics.
    • These musicians have prodigious mental capacities.
    • The experience caused her huge amounts of mental suffering.
    Extra Examples
    • Dehydration can affect your mental processes.
    • Mental performance can be seriously impaired by alcohol.
    • An adult whose mental capacity is unimpaired has the right to decide for themselves whether they will or will not receive surgical treatment.
  2.  
     [usually before noun] connected with the state of health of the mind or with the treatment of illnesses of the mind
    • a mental illness/disorder
    • She was suffering from physical and mental exhaustion.
    • The analysis of dreams can reveal details of a person's mental state.
    • (old-fashioned) a mental hospital/patient
    The use of mental in these compounds is now considered old-fashioned, sometimes even offensive. The preferred terms now are psychiatric hospital/patient. compare psychiatric
    Extra Examples
    • She suffered a mental breakdown after her son's death.
    • His family had concerns for his physical and mental well-being.
    • It is a sport that requires physical and mental toughness.
    Topics Mental healthb1
  3. [not usually before noun] (British English, slang, sometimes offensive) crazy The use of this term to describe somebody with a mental illness is offensive.
    • My dad will go mental (= be very angry) when he finds out.
    • We were just losing so much money—it was mental.
    • It was mental, but a brilliant ending to the film.
    4. Word Originlate Middle English: from late Latin mentalis, from Latin mens, ment- ‘mind’.
See mental in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee mental in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic English
Check pronunciation: mental

Nearby words

dizzy
adjective
 
 
From the Topic
Health problems
C1
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