broad´ness

broad «brd», adjective, adverb, noun.

–adj.

1. large across; wide: »

Many cars can go on that broad new highway.

SYNONYM(S): See syn. under wide. (Cf. ↑wide)

2. having wide range; extensive; vast: »

the broad expanse of the ocean. A teacher has broad experience with children.

SYNONYM(S): ample.

3. Figurative. not limited or narrow; liberal; tolerant: »

The police took a broad view of the boys' prank and did not bring charges against them.

4. including only the most important parts; general: »

Give me the broad outlines of what the speech was about.

SYNONYM(S): main.

5. clear; full: »

The theft was made in broad daylight.

6. plain; plainspoken; frank: »

to criticize in broad phrases. He gave his parents broad hints of what he wanted for his birthday.

7. coarse; not refined: »

broad jokes.

SYNONYM(S): gross.

8. uninhibited; free from restraints: »

broad mirth.

9. a) markedly dialectal; having local characteristics: »

broad Scotch.

b) characterized by full, strong utterance.

10. pronounced with a wide opening between tongue and palate. The a in father is broad.

11. indicating pronunciation busing one symbol for each phoneme, disregarding allophones.

–adv.

1. in a broad manner; fully; widely: »

... being in bed but broad awake (John Wesley).

2. outspokenly; without reserve: »

Who can speak broader than he that has no house to put his head in? (Shakespeare).

3. with a broad accent: »

Some Devonshire countrymen speak very broad.

–n.

1. the broad part of anything, especially of a part of the body: »

He fell on the broad of his back.

2. British. an extensive stretch of fresh water spreading out from a river: »

the Norfolk broads.

3. U.S. Slang. (sometimes regarded as vulgar or offensive) a woman or girl.

╂[Old English brād]

–broad´ly, adverb.

–broad´ness, noun.