brat Hear it!

brat Definition

brat (brat)

noun

  1. a child, esp. an impudent, unruly child: scornful or playful term
  2. Slang the son or daughter of a person in a professional community, a particular company, the armed forces, etc. a navy brat

Etymology: ME, cloak of coarse cloth < OE bratt < Gael, mantle, cloth, rag: present sense ? from child's bib or apron

brat Related Forms
bratty adjective or brat·tish brat·ti·ness noun or brat·tish·ness
brat* Synonyms

brat*

n.

impudent, child, unruly child, imp, whelp, urchin, rascal, terror*, whippersnapper*, minx*, enfant terrible (French), youngster*, kid*; see also boy, child, girl 1.

brat Usage Examples

Converse of object

  • spoil: Hannah Smith plays spoilt brat, Mary Lennox, whose parents have just died from cholera in India.
  • scream: Even the bar area was not exempt from screaming brats.
  • have: So we had the little brats in the studio.
  • bring: He brought these ugly, little brats with him.
  • keep: Our only chance is to keep those two brats out of sight.
  • name: We found out that a cheeky little brat named [ J ] was bullying the new kids... .

Adjective modifier

  • spoiled: It would have to be a very spoiled posh brat to be able to afford just one of the sets!
  • selfish: But the film is badly lacking in energy, and all of the characters are grumpy, selfish, ignorant brats.
  • little: In fact I don't think the little brat had anything nice to say all day.
  • military: After returning to the States as a military brat, she bounced from Wyoming to Washington State, writing all the while.
  • rich: The Face said I was a stupid spoilt rich kid brat making a cheap rubbish record.
  • small: It's hilarious to have this Pope as this small brat.

Modifies a noun

  • pack: True 12 Possibly inspired by an 80s brat pack movie, what was the name of Madonna's first rock band?
  • prince: Poetry My dear brat prince Show all categories.. .
  • camp: They are sent to a brat camp moving bales of paper day in and day out, not being allowed to talk or sign.
  • character: Brat pack character Judd Nelson How did you celebrate your first win?

Noun used with modifier

  • movie: Like movie brats, they're making books about books they've liked, rather than about what their lives are.
  • army: You have these army brats taking on an alien menace and it is all out survival for the human species.
  • tennis: The girls are both sweet - no hint of tennis brat - and close.
brat Quotes

Serves you right, you horrid brat For what you did to that poor cat.

—Bemelmans, Ludwig

Browse dictionary entries near brat

  1. brassy
  2. brassware
  3. brassiere
  4. brassie
  5. brasses
  6. brasserie
  7. brassboard
  8. brassard
  9. brass tacks
  10. brass ring
  1. Bratislava
  2. Bratsk
  3. brattice
  4. brattle
  5. bratwurst
  6. Braudel
  7. Braunschweig
  8. braunschweiger
  9. brava
  10. bravado