men ‧ tal S2 W2 AC /ˈmentl/ BrE AmE adjective
[ Word Family: noun : ↑ mentality ; adverb : ↑ mentally ; adjective : ↑ mental ]
[ Date: 1400-1500 ; Language: French ; Origin: Late Latin mentalis , from Latin mens 'mind' ]
1 . [only before noun] relating to the health or state of someone’s mind ⇨ psychiatric :
The centre provides help for people suffering from mental illness.
Stress has an effect on both your physical and mental health.
2 . [only before noun] relating to the mind and thinking, or happening only in the mind:
a child’s mental development
You need to develop a positive mental attitude.
mental picture/image (=a picture that you form in your mind)
I tried to get a mental picture of him from her description.
3 . make a mental note to make a special effort to remember something:
Sarah made a mental note to ask Janine about it later.
4 . mental block a difficulty in remembering something or in understanding something:
I got a complete mental block as soon as the interviewer asked me a question.
5 . go mental British English spoken informal
a) to get very angry
b) to start behaving in an uncontrolled or excited way
6 . [not before noun] British English informal thinking or behaving in a way that seems crazy or strange:
He must be mental!
—mentally adverb :
I was exhausted, both physically and mentally.