brɔ:d adj. & n. --adj. 1
large in
extent from one side to
the other;
wide. 2 (following a measurement) in
breadth (2 metres broad). 3
spacious or
extensive (broad acres; a broad plain). 4 full
and clear (broad daylight). 5
explicit,
unmistakable (broad hint). 6
general;
not taking account of
detail (broad intentions; a broad
inquiry; in the broadest
sense of the word). 7
chief or
principal (the broad facts). 8
tolerant,
liberal (take a broad view). 9
somewhat coarse (broad humour). 10 (of speech) markedly regional (broad Scots). --n. 1 the broad
part of
something (broad of the back). 2 US sl. a
young woman. 3 (the Broads) large areas of
fresh water in E. Anglia, formed
where rivers
widen. øbroad
arrow see ARROW. broad
bean 1 a kind of bean, Vicia faba,
with pods containing large
edible flat seeds. 2 one of
these seeds. Broad
Church a
group within the
Anglican Church favouring a liberal interpretation of
doctrine. broad
gauge a
railway track with a gauge wider
than the
standard one. broad-leaved (of a tree)
deciduous and hard-timbered. broad
pennant a
short swallow-tailed pennant distinguishing the commodore's
ship in a
squadron. broad
spectrum (of a
medicinal substance)
effective against a large
variety of micro-organisms. øøbroadness n. broadways adv. broadwise adv. [OE
brad f. Gmc]
