- [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.
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- [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
Extra ExamplesTopics Mental healthb1- 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.
- [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.
Word Originlate Middle English: from late Latin mentalis, from Latin mens, ment- ‘mind’.
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mental