broom

1 of 2

noun

ˈbrüm  ˈbru̇m 

1

: any of various leguminous shrubs (especially genera Cytisus and Genista) with long slender branches, small leaves, and usually showy yellow flowers

especially : scotch broom

2

: a bundle of firm stiff twigs or fibers bound together on a long handle especially for sweeping

broom

2 of 2

verb

broomed; brooming; brooms

transitive verb

1

: to sweep with or as if with a broom

2

: to finish (something, such as a concrete surface) by means of a broom

Examples of broom in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Only use the bristle side of a broom to gently brush off the snow. —Jennifer McRae, CBS News, 6 May 2026

And James, alongside Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love, brought out the brooms in 2016’s opening round. —Steven Louis Goldstein, New York Times, 5 May 2026

Verb

Being broomed by the Avalanche and put in a dust bin only reinforced the prevailing feeling that missing the playoffs altogether would have been a preferable end to the 2025-26 season. —Eric Stephens, New York Times, 28 Apr. 2026

It was left to the feds in Boston to arrest Farwell, after Meatball’s local yokels adamantly refused to do anything other than try to broom the crime by one of their own. —Howie Carr, Boston Herald, 26 Apr. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, from Old English brōm; akin to Old High German brāmo bramble

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1838, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing broom

• push broom
• Scotch broom
• whisk broom

Rhymes for broom

• blume
• boom
• doom
• flume
• fume
• gloom
• glume
• groom
• loom
• plume
• rheum
• room

Kids Definition

broom

noun

ˈbrüm, 

ˈbru̇m

1

: a plant of the legume family that has long slender branches along which grow many drooping yellow flowers

2

: a brush that has a long handle and is used for sweeping

Medical Definition

broom

noun

ˈbrüm  ˈbru̇m 

: any of various leguminous shrubs (especially genera Cytisus and Genista) with long slender branches, upright growth, small leaves, and usually showy yellow flowers

especially : scotch broom see broom top