broad

¹broad

adjective \ˈbrȯd\

Definition of BROAD

1

a : having ample extent from side to side or between limits <broad shoulders>

b : having a specified extension from side to side <made the path 10 feet broad>

2

: extending far and wide : spacious <the broad plains>

3

a : open, full <broad daylight>

b : plain, obvious <a broad hint>

4

: dialectal especially in pronunciation

5

: marked by lack of restraint, delicacy, or subtlety:

a obsolete : outspoken

b : coarse, risqué <broad humor>

6

of a vowel : open —used specifically of a pronounced as in father

7

a : liberal, tolerant <broad views>

b : widely applicable or applied : general <a broad rule>

8

: relating to the main or essential points <broad outlines>

— broad·ly adverb

— broad·ness noun

Examples of BROAD

1. The store has a broad selection of coats.
2. There was broad agreement on the new government.
3. There are three broad categories of industry in the region: computers, finance, and education.
4. the broad outlines of a problem
5. discusses “family” in its broadest sense

Origin of BROAD

Middle English brood, from Old English brād; akin to Old High German breit broad

First Known Use: before 12th century

Related to BROAD

Synonyms

wide, fat, thick

Antonyms

hairline, narrow, paper-thin, skinny, slender, slim, slim-jim, thin

Related Words

expansive, extensive, sweeping; commodious, roomy, spacious; outsize (also outsized), oversize (or oversized), sizable (or sizeable), substantial, tidy, voluminous

Near Antonyms

fine, hairlike, reedlike; elongate (or elongated), needlelike; bottleneck, close, compressed, condensed, constricted, contracted, squeezed, tight, tightened; attenuate, attenuated; small, smallish, undersized (also undersize)

Synonym Discussion of BROAD

broad, wide, deep mean having horizontal extent. broad and wide apply to a surface measured or viewed from side to side <a broad avenue>. wide is more common when units of measurement are mentioned <rugs eight feet wide> or applied to unfilled space between limits <a wide doorway>. broad is preferred when full horizontal extent is considered <broad shoulders>. deep may indicate horizontal extent away from the observer or from a front or peripheral point <a deep cupboard> <deep woods>.

Rhymes with BROAD

awed, baud, bawd, clawed, flawed, fraud, gaud, god, jawed, laud, yod

²broad

adverb

Definition of BROAD

: in a broad manner : fully <broad awake>

First Known Use of BROAD

before 12th century

³broad

noun

Definition of BROAD

1

British : an expansion of a river —often used in plural

2

often offensive : woman

First Known Use of BROAD

1659

Broad

geographical name \ˈbrȯd\

Definition of BROAD

1

river 220 miles (354 kilometers) North Carolina & South Carolina — see saluda

2

river 70 miles (113 kilometers) S South Carolina flowing into the Atlantic