broach

1 of 3

noun

ˈbrōch 

1

: brooch

wore a lovely broach on her lapel

2

: any of various pointed or tapered tools, implements, or parts: such as

a

: a spit for roasting meat

b

: a tool for tapping casks

c

: a cutting tool for removing material from metal or plastic to shape an outside surface or a hole

broach

2 of 3

verb (1)

broached; broaching; broaches

transitive verb

1

a

: to pierce (something, such as a cask) in order to draw the contents

also : to open for the first time

b

: to open up or break into (a mine, stores, etc.)

2

: to shape or enlarge (a hole) with a broach (see broach entry 1 sense 2c)

3

a

: to make known for the first time

b

: to open up (a subject) for discussion

a good time to broach the subject

intransitive verb

: to break the surface from below

the whale broached

broacher noun

broach

3 of 3

verb (2)

broached; broaching; broaches

intransitive verb

nautical : to veer or yaw dangerously so as to lie broadside to the waves

—often used with to

Our ship broached to.

Synonyms

Verb (1)

• break
• surface

Choose the Right Synonym for broach

express, vent, utter, voice, broach, air mean to make known what one thinks or feels.

express suggests an impulse to reveal in words, gestures, actions, or what one creates or produces.

expressed her feelings in music

vent stresses a strong inner compulsion to express especially in words.

a tirade venting his frustration

utter implies the use of the voice not necessarily in articulate speech.

utter a groan

voice does not necessarily imply vocal utterance but does imply expression or formulation in words.

an editorial voicing their concerns

broach adds the implication of disclosing for the first time something long thought over or reserved for a suitable occasion.

broached the subject of a divorce

air implies an exposing or parading of one's views often in order to gain relief or sympathy or attention.

publicly airing their differences

Examples of broach in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

When Angela disappears into the woods after school one day with her friend Katherine (Olivia O’Neill), Victor’s panic is palpable — as is his refusal to believe in any kind of merciful deity when Katherine’s heavily religious parents broach matters of the spirit with him. —Vulture, 6 Oct. 2023

Clockwise from left: Freddie’s famed arrow jacket, Queen broach, and mustache comb. —Vulture, 7 Sep. 2023

With the subway system in a yearslong deficit, politicians routinely broach scrapping the free fares or raising the age to qualify. —Victoria Kim Chang W. Lee, New York Times, 22 Sep. 2023

In addition, there are several necklace or earring latches as well as a slip pocket and sections for bracelets or broaches. —Anna Popp, Travel + Leisure, 28 Aug. 2023

Choose your own embellishment with a cute pin or a broach. —Nneya Richards, Travel + Leisure, 15 July 2023

In the short clip, Lopez is dressed in a gown with a red plunging neckline and black skirt tied together with a large green ribbon broach at her waist. —Kimberlee Speakman, Peoplemag, 2 Jan. 2023

Wearing a black suit, black sunglasses, leather gloves and a cream tie paired with a glimmering tie knot broach, Usher embraced the theme. —USA TODAY, 2 May 2023

The Garter Star, given to her by the president of Germany, was pinned to the left side of her dress along with the Royal Family Order of Queen Elizabeth II broach. —Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 30 Mar. 2023

Verb

On Tuesday, the King, 74, broached the subject during a state banquet at the State House in Nairobi. —Janine Henni, Peoplemag, 31 Oct. 2023

Singer’s absence was broached by a fan at the RHONY Legacy panel, despite Michael Rapaport’s best attempts to steer around the issue. —Bethy Squires, Vulture, 7 Nov. 2023

In his keynote speech the following morning, Davis did not broach FTX. —Joel Khalili, WIRED, 30 Oct. 2023

Filled with a range of medical facts, real-life stories, and helpful advice, this book broaches every topic in a caring manner. —Maya Polton, Parents, 16 Oct. 2023

Despite that suggestion of flexibility, Termini did not broach the notion of adding back middle-class housing if things improve. —Michael Smolens, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Oct. 2023

After a fertility specialist broached the idea of egg donation, Daniel’s twin did not hesitate to donate her own eggs. —Bailey Richards, Peoplemag, 22 Oct. 2023

When Vought first broached his idea for a modern-day Church Committee, people asked him if the concept was religious. —Jonathan Blitzer, The New Yorker, 21 Oct. 2023

But le Carré stops far short of broaching the subject of his numerous extramarital affairs. —Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 19 Oct. 2023

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Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English broche "pointed instrument, brooch," borrowed from Anglo-French, "pointed object, brooch, spigot," going back to Vulgar Latin *brocca, noun derivative from feminine of Latin broccus "prominent, projecting," of uncertain origin

Verb (1)

Middle English brochen "to pierce, skewer (meat), tap (a cask)," borrowed from Anglo-French brocher "to prick, spur, stab," verbal derivative of broche "pointed object" — more at broach entry 1

Verb (2)

perhaps from broach entry 2

First Known Use

Noun

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb (1)

15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Verb (2)

1699, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

broach

1 of 2 noun

ˈbrōch 

: any of various pointed or narrowed tools or parts

especially : one used for shaping a hole already bored

broach

2 of 2 verb

1

: to make a hole in (as a cask) in order to draw off the contents

2

: to bring up for discussion

broach a subject

3

: to break the surface (as of water) from below

saw a submarine broaching

Medical Definition

broach

1 of 2 noun

ˈbrōch 

: a fine tapered flexible instrument used in dentistry to remove dental pulp and to dress a root canal

broach

2 of 2 transitive verb

: to open (a vein) to draw blood