Adjacent Words

Broach definitions

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Webster's 1828 Dictionary

BROACH, n.
1. A spit, and in some parts of the English dominions, an awl, and a bodkin.
2. A musical instrument played by turning a handle.
3. A clasp or small utensil to fasten a vest. [See Brooch.]
4. A start of the head of a young stag.
BROACH, v.t.
1. To spit; to pierce as with a spit.
2. To tap; to pierce, as a cask, in order to draw the liquor; hence, to let out.
3. To open, as a store. [Unusual.]
4. To utter; to give out; to publish first; to make public what was before unknown; as, to broach an opinion.
To broach to, in navigation, to incline suddenly to windward, so as to lay the sails aback and expose the vessel to the danger of oversetting.

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

n
1: a decorative pin worn by women [syn: brooch, broach, breastpin] v
1: bring up a topic for discussion [syn: broach, initiate]

Merriam Webster's

I. noun Etymology: Middle English broche, from Anglo-French, from Vulgar Latin *brocca, from Latin, feminine of broccus projecting Date: 13th century 1. brooch 2. any of various pointed or tapered tools, implements, or parts: as a. a spit for roasting meat b. a tool for tapping casks c. a cutting tool for removing material from metal or plastic to shape an outside surface or a hole II. verb Date: 15th century transitive verb 1. a. to pierce (as a cask) in order to draw the contents; also to open for the first time b. to open up or break into (as a mine or stores) 2. to shape or enlarge (a hole) with a broach 3. a. to make known for the first time b. to open up (a subject) for discussion intransitive verb to break the surface from below Synonyms: see express • broacher noun III. intransitive verb Etymology: perhaps from ²broach Date: 1705 to veer or yaw dangerously so as to lie broadside to the waves — often used with to

U.S. Military Dictionary

When a water craft is thrown broadside to the wind and waves, against a bar, or against the shoreline. (JP 4-01.6)

Oxford Reference Dictionary

v. & n. --v.tr. 1 raise (a subject) for discussion. 2 pierce (a cask) to draw liquor. 3 open and start using contents of (a box, bale, bottle, etc.). 4 begin drawing (liquor). --n. 1 a bit for boring. 2 a roasting-spit. Phrases and idioms: broach spire an octagonal church spire rising from a square tower without a parapet. Etymology: ME f. OF broche (n.), brocher (v.) ult. f. L brocc(h)us projecting

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Broach Broach, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Broached; p. pr. & vb. n. Broaching.] [F. brocher, fr. broche. See Broach, n.] 1. To spit; to pierce as with a spit. I'll broach the tadpole on my rapier's point. --Shak. 2. To tap; to pierce, as a cask, in order to draw the liquor. Hence: To let out; to shed, as blood. Whereat with blade, with bloody blameful blade, He bravely broached his boiling bloody breast. --Shak. 3. To open for the first time, as stores. You shall want neither weapons, victuals, nor aid; I will open the old armories, I will broach my store, and will bring forth my stores. --Knolles. 4. To make public; to utter; to publish first; to put forth; to introduce as a topic of conversation. Those very opinions themselves had broached. --Swift. 5. To cause to begin or break out. [Obs.] --Shak. 6. (Masonry) To shape roughly, as a block of stone, by chiseling with a coarse tool. [Scot. & North of Eng.] 7. To enlarge or dress (a hole), by using a broach. To broach to (Naut.), to incline suddenly to windward, so as to lay the sails aback, and expose the vessel to the danger of oversetting.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Broach Broach, n. [OE. broche, F. broche, fr. LL. brocca; prob. of Celtic origin; cf. W. proc thrust, stab, Gael. brog awl. Cf. Brooch.] 1. A spit. [Obs.] He turned a broach that had worn a crown. --Bacon. 2. An awl; a bodkin; also, a wooden rod or pin, sharpened at each end, used by thatchers. [Prov. Eng.] --Forby. 3. (Mech.) (a) A tool of steel, generally tapering, and of a polygonal form, with from four to eight cutting edges, for smoothing or enlarging holes in metal; sometimes made smooth or without edges, as for burnishing pivot holes in watches; a reamer. The broach for gun barrels is commonly square and without taper. (b) A straight tool with file teeth, made of steel, to be pressed through irregular holes in metal that cannot be dressed by revolving tools; a drift. 4. (Masonry) A broad chisel for stonecutting. 5. (Arch.) A spire rising from a tower. [Local, Eng.] 6. A clasp for fastening a garment. See Brooch. 7. A spitlike start, on the head of a young stag. 8. The stick from which candle wicks are suspended for dipping. --Knight. 9. The pin in a lock which enters the barrel of the key.

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

(broaches, broaching, broached) When you broach a subject, especially a sensitive one, you mention it in order to start a discussion on it. Eventually I broached the subject of her early life. VERB: V n

Soule's Dictionary of English Synonyms

v. a. 1. Pierce, tap, set running, open (for the first time). 2. Open (a subject), suggest, hint, approach one on, break. 3. Utter, publish, proclaim, give out.

Moby Thesaurus

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