Broad , n.
1. The broad part of
anything; as, the broad of an oar.
2. The spread of
a river into a sheet
of water; a
flooded fen. [Local,
Eng.]
Southey.
3. A lathe tool
for turning down the insides and bottoms of cylinders. Knight.
Broad (&?;), a.
[Compar. Broader (&?;); superl.
Broadest.]
[OE. brod, brad,
AS. brād; akin to OS.
brēd, D. breed, G. breit, Icel.
brei&?;r, Sw. & Dan. bred, Goth. braids. Cf.
Breadth.] 1. Wide; extend in breadth, or from side
to side; -- opposed to narrow; as, a broad street, a broad table; an inch broad.
2. Extending far and wide; extensive; vast; as, the broad expanse of ocean.
3. Extended, in the sense of
diffused; open; clear; full. "Broad and open day." Bp. Porteus.
4. Fig.: Having a large measure of any thing
or quality; not limited; not restrained; -- applied to any subject, and retaining the literal idea more or less
clearly, the precise meaning depending largely on the substantive.
A broad mixture of falsehood.
Locke.
Hence: -
5. Comprehensive; liberal; enlarged.
The words in the
Constitution are broad enough to include the case.
D. Daggett.
In a broad, statesmanlike, and masterly way.
E. Everett.
6.
Plain; evident; as, a broad hint.
7. Free; unrestrained;
unconfined.
As broad and general as the casing air.
Shak.
8. (Fine Arts)
Characterized by breadth.
See Breadth.
9. Cross; coarse; indelicate; as, a broad compliment; a broad joke; broad humor.
10. Strongly marked; as, a broad Scotch accent.
&fist;
Broad is often used in compounds to signify wide, large, etc.; as, broad-chested, broad-shouldered, broad-spreading, broad-winged.
Broad acres. See under Acre. -- Broad arrow, originally a pheon. See Pheon, and Broad arrow under Arrow. --
As broad as long, having the length equal to the breadth; hence, the same one
way as another; coming to the same result by different ways or processes.
It is as broad as long, whether they rise to
others, or bring others down to them.
L'Estrange.
Broad pennant. See under Pennant.
Syn. -- Wide; large; ample; expanded; spacious; roomy; extensive; vast; comprehensive; liberal.
Hear it pronounced