brood

¹brood

noun \ˈbrüd\

Definition of BROOD

1

: the young of an animal or a family of young; especially : the young (as of a bird or insect) hatched or cared for at one time

2

: a group having a common nature or origin

3

: the children of a family

Examples of BROOD

1. a hen and her brood of chicks
2. Mrs. Smith took her brood to church every Sunday.

Origin of BROOD

Middle English, from Old English brōd; akin to Middle High German bruot brood and perhaps to Old English beorma yeast — more at barm

First Known Use: before 12th century

Other Birds Terms

aerie, bunting, clutch, covey, hackle, ratite, rictus, ruff, skein, zygodactyl

Rhymes with BROOD

crowd, crude, dude, feud, food, hued, Jude, lewd, lude, mood, nude, oud, pood, prude, pseud, rood, rude, shrewd, snood, stewed, 'tude, wood, wud

²brood

adjective

Definition of BROOD

: kept for breeding <a brood flock>

First Known Use of BROOD

15th century

Other Animal Husbandry Terms

apiary, bantam, calico, girth, hogwash, mast, rut

³brood

verb

Definition of BROOD

transitive verb

1

a : to sit on or incubate (eggs)

b : to produce by or as if by incubation : hatch

2

of a bird : to cover (young) with the wings

3

: to think anxiously or gloomily about : ponder

intransitive verb

1

a of a bird : to brood eggs or young

b : to sit quietly and thoughtfully : meditate

2

: hover, loom

3

a : to dwell gloomily on a subject

b : to be in a state of depression

— brood·ing·ly \ˈbrü-diŋ-lē\ adverb

Examples of BROOD

1. He brooded over his mistake.
2. After the argument, she sat in her bedroom, brooding.

First Known Use of BROOD

15th century

Related to BROOD

Synonyms

set, hatch, incubate, sit

Related Words

lay, spawn