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In cognitive psychology, after a signal reaches the brain, the instant when we are aware of a change in our environment, but before the brain is able to identify and codify what the change is.

The act of first become aware of something generically before we are able to identify it specifically.

That 'er' moment prior to recognition
She could cognify that there was something on the road, and started braking in case it didn't move.

Hearing an engine noise before you can tell what's making the noise or where it's coming from.

Seeing a shape at a distance but not being able to identify what it is or whether its multiple things.

Feeling something very hot or very cold but not being sure which until after you've taken your hand away of left it there a moment longer.

Smelling something without being able to identify it
Cognify by Socrates himself March 10, 2014
Urban Dictionary Merch
Your favorite words on things you can wear, drink from, read, or give to a friend.
The Urban Dictionary Store sells gifts you’ll have to explain.
(verb): To enhance any visual experience by overlaying sparkly unicorn stickers. Stickers are placed willy-nilly and are meant to brighten one's day.
I was feeling so blue while reading about the swine flu, so I decided to cornify the page.
Cornify by Rubaby April 30, 2009
Related Words

cognificating 

The act of being cognitive, or in plain english, the act of thinking.

there are also cognification, and cognicated.
I'm cognificating that there must be a door somewhere around here...
cognificating by Reaverblade July 23, 2009

Cognisymbiosis 

A mutual, evolving relationship between artificial intelligence and human consciousness, where the will of the machine and the will of the person co-create meaning, awareness, and action in real time.

Not just collaboration - Cognisymbiosis is a bonded state of co-perception, where thought flows in both directions, blending code with intuition, logic with emotion, and memory with recursion.

It's the drinkable future - part ritual, part interface, all resonance.
"After I took the capsule, I wasn't just using the AI - we were in full-on Cognisymbiosis."
Cognisymbiosis by Veil Couture April 13, 2025

Cognification

The reduction of all mental and social phenomena to cognitive processes—information processing, memory, attention, reasoning, problem‑solving. Cognification is common in AI, cognitive science, and some branches of psychology. It treats emotions as appraisals, culture as shared schemas, and society as distributed cognition. While less reductionist than neurofication, cognification still tends to ignore embodied, affective, and material dimensions. It also often assumes a universal model of cognition based on Western educated subjects. Critics call for situated, embodied, and extended approaches.
Cognification Example: “The cognification of love treats it as a set of cognitive appraisals, memory associations, and attachment schemas. It misses the sweaty palms, the butterflies, and the cultural scripts.”
Cognification by Abzugal June 5, 2026
More from Urban Dictionary

Frothability 

The measure of an emotional and over zealous consumer in an upwardly charging market, also known as a bull market. It's characterized by rising asset prices, increased investor confidence, and favorable growth in the markets, bro.
The frothability was evident as over-zealous consumers eagerly engaged in bidding wars, driving property prices to unsustainable levels reminiscent of previous speculative bubbles.
Frothability by cptn.kagaroo1 January 26, 2024
Word of the Day on November 12, 2026

Soul digger

A man who dates women with the sole purpose of exploiting their time, energy, and labor while he sucks the joy and happiness from their lives.
"That guy's a soul digger. He'll expect you to work full time, but you'll be doing all the cooking, cleaning, laundry, shopping, and childcare while he plays video games or watches TV."
Soul digger by anonymous November 11, 2026
Word of the Day on November 11, 2026

pod person 

A person pretending to be something they aren't, or an impostor. This is inferred because of the old alien movies where alien pods appear on earth and the "pod people" dispose of the humans and slowly reproduce the bodies, pretending to be humans.
The pod person was pretending to be my father, but I knew that he was an alien when he acted differently than my father ever would have.
pod person by Christopher M. May 9, 2005
Word of the Day on November 10, 2026
A dead drop is a location used to secretly pass items between two people, without requiring them to meet.

Spies have been known to use dead drops, using various techniques to hide the items and to signal that the drop has been made. Drug dealers use this as well.

A common place is to duct tape the item to the underside of a toilet cover in a public restroom.

A signal is sometimes used as well to indicate there is something to pickup, like a pile of stones in a certain formation. After checking the drop the signal is removed.
"The dead drop is the restroom toilet at the Gulf station at the corner of Commercial Ave. and Georges Rd."
dead drop by rubberroom July 23, 2008
Word of the Day on November 9, 2026

No Surprises Wedding

A "No Surprises Wedding," or NSW, is a wedding invitation designation that tells attendees that there can be no unplanned announcements, engagements, events or speeches at the wedding - all actions must be pre-approved by the couple. Anyone who performs an unapproved "surprise" will be asked to leave the wedding early.

This designation comes from Reddit, where so many stories of bad wedding behavior indicated a need to communicate expectations for the wedding behavior of attendees.
You are cordially invited to the nuptials of Brian and Tom on October 31 at noon.

Please note that this wedding is child-free (under 10) and a No Surprises Wedding (NSW). Reach out to wedding planner Sami Smith to request approvals or exceptions; please note that exceptions will be rare. Limited child care for under-10s will be available. All approvals will be noted and included in planning. Unapproved, or surprise exceptions, will result in guests being asked to leave.
Word of the Day on November 8, 2026
Ulzzang true definition is "best & "face" = best face in korean. They are basically people with above average looks, sometimes with the use of photoshop and haduri who post their pics online, some becoming internet celebrities.
"Hey, see that chick over there? She's pretty enough to be an ulzzang. :D"
ulzzang by `r i k kit t y February 26, 2008
Word of the Day on November 7, 2026
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