broad

I. adjective Etymology: Middle English brood, from Old English brād; akin to Old High German breit broad Date: before 12th century 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, risque <

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

> • broadly adverb • broadness noun Synonyms: 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

>. II. adverb Date: before 12th century in a broad manner ; fully <

broad awake

> III. noun Date: 1659 1. British an expansion of a river — often used in plural 2. often offensive woman