Brainstorming is when people meet on purpose to throw out many ideas — for a problem, a name, a story — without stopping to judge each one at first. The hope is that a wild idea will wake up a better one. In schools and offices the usual picture is a group, a board, a lot of talking.

Brainstorming腦力激盪 is when發生在 people meet on purpose人們刻意聚在一起 to throw out many ideas丟出很多點子 for a problem, a name, a story針對一個問題、一個名字、一個故事 without stopping to judge each one at first一開始先不停下來評判每個點子。The hope is希望的是 that a wild idea will wake up a better one一個瘋狂的點子會激發出一個更好的點子。In schools and offices在學校和公司裡 the usual picture is一般的畫面是 a group, a board, a lot of talking一群人、一塊白板、七嘴八舌。

As a noun: a brainstorming session. As a verb form: we are brainstorming names for the club. The word is brainstorm plus -ing; brainstorm itself is brain + storm, a storm of thoughts.

As a noun當名詞用 : a brainstorming session像a brainstorming session這樣。As a verb form當動詞用 : we are brainstorming names for the club像we are brainstorming names for the club這樣。The word is這個字是 brainstorm plus -ingbrainstorm加上-ing brainstorm itselfbrainstorm這個字本身 is是 brain + stormbrain（腦）加storm（風暴） a storm of thoughts也就是一場思緒的風暴。

People do stretch it. One person at a desk may say “I’m brainstorming,” and others will understand, though the textbook picture is several people together. A brainstorm can also mean a single sudden idea. Though actually, an older meaning of brainstorm was a sudden wild or confused moment in the mind; that is why the “storm” picture is a little messy, and why a few English speakers now feel uneasy with the word and pick “idea session” instead.

People do stretch it人們確實會延伸這個字的用法。One person at a desk一個人坐在辦公桌前 may say可能會說 “I'm brainstorming,”「I'm brainstorming」 and而且 others will understand其他人也聽得懂 though雖然 the textbook picture is several people together教科書上的標準畫面是好幾個人一起。A brainstorm can also meanbrainstorm也可以指 a single sudden idea一個突然冒出的單一點子。Though actually不過 an older meaning of brainstorm was以前brainstorm有個較舊的意思是 a sudden wild or confused moment in the mind腦中突然一陣狂亂或混亂的時刻 that is why這就是為什麼 the “storm” picture is a little messy「storm（風暴）」這個畫面有點混亂 and而且 why a few English speakers now feel uneasy with the word為什麼有些英語人士現在對這個字感到不太自在 and而 pick “idea session” instead改用「idea session」。

In Taiwan classrooms and companies, brainstorming is still the normal everyday term, and that is the sense you will meet. You brainstorm ideas, plans, names. You do not brainstorm a person.

In Taiwan classrooms and companies在台灣的教室和公司裡 brainstorming is still the normal everyday term腦力激盪仍然是日常慣用的說法 and而且 that is the sense you will meet那就是你會碰到的意思。You brainstorm你可以brainstorm ideas, plans, names點子、計畫、名字。You do not brainstorm但你不會brainstorm a person一個人。