broach

Use broach in a sentence

A Christmas tree broach.

noun

The definition of a broach is a large piece of women's jewelry.
An example of a broach is a 3" pin that you wear on your winter coat.

verb

To broach is defined as to cautiously bring up a sensitive or controversial topic.
An example of broach is when you bring up a subject with your spouse that you have fought about many times before.

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"broach." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 18 January 2019. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/BROACH>.

APA Style

broach. (n.d.). Retrieved January 18th, 2019, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/BROACH

broach

a sharp-pointed rod used to hold roasting meat; spit
a tapered bit on a metal-cutting machine tool that is pulled or pushed through a hole to enlarge or shape the hole
a device for tapping casks
a hole made by a broach
brooch

Origin of broach

Middle English broche, a pin, peg, spit from Old French broche, broc from Medieval Latin brocca, a spike, point from Classical Latin broccus, with projecting teeth; of Celtic origin, originally

to make a hole in so as to let out liquid; tap (a cask)
to enlarge or shape (a hole) with a broach
to start a discussion of; bring up; introduce: to broach a subject

broach Idioms

broach to

Naut. to turn or swing so that the beam faces the waves and wind and there is danger of swamping or capsizing

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MLA Style

"broach." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 18 January 2019. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/BROACH>.

APA Style

broach. (n.d.). Retrieved January 18th, 2019, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/BROACH

broach

transitive verb

broached, broach·ing, broach·es

a. To bring up (a subject) for discussion or debate.
b. To announce: We broached our plans for the new year.
To pierce in order to draw off liquid: broach a keg of beer.
To draw off (a liquid) by piercing a hole in a cask or other container.
To shape or enlarge (a hole) with a tapered, serrated tool.

noun

a. A tapered, serrated tool used to shape or enlarge a hole.
b. The hole made by such a tool.
A spit for roasting meat.
A mason's narrow chisel.
A gimlet for tapping or broaching casks.
Variant of brooch

Origin of broach

Middle English brochen to pierce probably from broche pointed weapon or implement from Old French from Vulgar Latin brocca from Latin broccus projecting

Related Forms:

broach′er
noun

intr. & tr.v.

broached, broach·ing, broach·es Nautical

To veer or cause to veer broadside to the wind and waves: tried to keep the boat from broaching to.

Origin of broach

Probably from broach ¹

THE AMERICAN HERITAGE® DICTIONARY OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE, FIFTH EDITION by the Editors of the American Heritage Dictionaries. Copyright © 2016, 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

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MLA Style

"broach." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 18 January 2019. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/BROACH>.

APA Style

broach. (n.d.). Retrieved January 18th, 2019, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/BROACH

broach

broach ¹introduce moot raise

These verbs mean to bring forward a point, topic, or question for consideration or discussion: broach the subject tactfully; introduce a tax bill before the legislature; an idea that was mooted before the committee; raised the problem of dropouts with the faculty.

THE AMERICAN HERITAGE® DICTIONARY OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE, FIFTH EDITION by the Editors of the American Heritage Dictionaries. Copyright © 2016, 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Link/Cite

Link to this page

Cite this page

MLA Style

"broach." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 18 January 2019. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/BROACH>.

APA Style

broach. (n.d.). Retrieved January 18th, 2019, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/BROACH

Noun

(plural broaches)

A series of chisel points mounted on one piece of steel.
(masonry) A broad chisel for stone-cutting.
Alternative spelling of brooch.
A spit for cooking food.
An awl; a bodkin; also, a wooden rod or pin, sharpened at each end, used by thatchers.
(architecture, UK, dialect) A spire rising from a tower.
A spit-like start on the head of a young stag.
The stick from which candle wicks are suspended for dipping.
The pin in a lock which enters the barrel of the key.

Verb

(third-person singular simple present broaches, present participle broaching, simple past and past participle broached)

To make a hole in, especially a cask of liquor, and put in a tap in order to draw the liquid.
To open, to make an opening into; to pierce.
French knights at Agincourt were unable to broach the English line.
(figuratively) To begin discussion about (something).
I broached the subject of contraceptives carefully when the teenager mentioned his promiscuity.

Related terms

brochure

Origin

Old French broche, from Vulgar Latin *brocca, originally feminine form of Latin broccus, perhaps ultimately of Gaulish origin (see Gaelic brog; cognate to brochure.

Verb

(third-person singular simple present broaches, present participle broaching, simple past and past participle broached)

(intransitive) To be turned sideways to oncoming waves, especially large or breaking waves.
The small boat broached and nearly sank, because of the large waves.
To cause to turn sideways to oncoming waves, especially large or breaking waves.
To be overcome or submerged by a wave or surge of water.
Each time we came around into the wind, the sea broached our bow.

See also: broaçh

English Wiktionary. Available under CC-BY-SA license.