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broach

noun
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\ ˈbrōch \

Definition of broach

 (Entry 1 of 3)

1 : brooch wore a lovely broach on her lapel
2 : any of various pointed or tapered tools, implements, or parts: such 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

broach

verb (1)
broached; broaching; broaches

Definition of broach (Entry 2 of 3)

transitive verb

1a : to pierce (something, such as a cask) in order to draw the contents also : to open for the first time
b : to open up or break into (a mine, stores, etc.)
2 : to shape or enlarge (a hole) with a broach (see broach entry 1 sense 2c)
3a : to make known for the first time
b : to open up (a subject) for discussion a good time to broach the subject

intransitive verb

: to break the surface from below the whale broached

broach

verb (2)
broached; broaching; broaches

Definition of broach (Entry 3 of 3)

intransitive verb

nautical : to veer or yaw dangerously so as to lie broadside to the waves —often used with to Our ship broached to.
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Other Words from broach

Verb (1)

broacher noun

Synonyms for broach

Synonyms: Verb (1)

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Choose the Right Synonym for broach

Verb (1)

express, vent, utter, voice, broach, air mean to make known what one thinks or feels. express suggests an impulse to reveal in words, gestures, actions, or what one creates or produces. expressed her feelings in music vent stresses a strong inner compulsion to express especially in words. a tirade venting his frustration utter implies the use of the voice not necessarily in articulate speech. utter a groan voice does not necessarily imply vocal utterance but does imply expression or formulation in words. an editorial voicing their concerns broach adds the implication of disclosing for the first time something long thought over or reserved for a suitable occasion. broached the subject of a divorce air implies an exposing or parading of one's views often in order to gain relief or sympathy or attention. publicly airing their differences

Examples of broach in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun With the help of a marker to keep track, count how many pointed ridges the broach has, because any replacement handle will need to match. — Washington Post, 12 July 2021 Van den Berg got hold of a photo of her as a young woman in her white nanny’s uniform, with a crescent chapeau clipped to her blonde hair and a gold broach at her collar. — Steve Lopez, Los Angeles Times, 5 Mar. 2021 This broach-no-compromise obstructionism has been the strategy of congressional Republicans since the mid-1990s. — Washington Post, 9 Nov. 2020 Baldwin wore a broach from her grandmother, who helped raise her and was featured in the speech. Baldwin praised Biden and Obama for pushing through the Affordable Care Act. — Bill Glauber, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 20 Aug. 2020 She's dressed in all black and wearing her power broach: the Mace of the Republic, which symbolizes the legislative authority of the House of Representatives. — Channing Hargrove, refinery29.com, 5 Feb. 2020 Here's Pelosi on the House floor with her broach vs a pic of the mace. — Channing Hargrove, refinery29.com, 5 Feb. 2020 Her Majesty is closest to the camera in the image, wearing a white dress accessorized by dresser Angela Kelly with a sapphire and diamond broach, and one of her iconic Launer handbags. — Omid Scobie, Harper's BAZAAR, 3 Jan. 2020 It can be worn in 12 different ways – a necklace, broach, the arrow detaches as a pin, and more and more. — al, 6 Oct. 2019 Recent Examples on the Web: Verb One sure way to start an argument among hikers is to broach the topic of which Arizona mountains are the highest. — Mare Czinar, The Arizona Republic, 20 Aug. 2021 Washington — President Biden is meeting Monday with Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi at the White House for talks that are expected to broach the future of the U.S. military footprint in Iraq. — Eleanor Watson, CBS News, 26 July 2021 Or perhaps your niece simply didn’t know how to broach the subject and therefore avoided the discussion with you entirely. — chicagotribune.com, 26 July 2021 Shareholder proposals in particular are an important mechanism for shareholders to broach significant issues, monitor corporate management, and influence corporate policies. — Bhakti Mirchandani, Forbes, 28 June 2021 How, then, would teachers broach the Civil War, Dred Scott, the Emancipation Proclamation, the 13th, 14th and 15th Amendments or Juneteenth without fear of reprisal? — WSJ, 15 July 2021 The best way for agents to broach difficult subjects or have difficult conversations regarding expectations with clients is to be direct, clear and transparent. — Expert Panel, Forbes, 17 June 2021 Others may try to broach the issue at trial or at least during sentencing in bids for leniency. — Michael Tarm And Jacques Billeaud, The Christian Science Monitor, 24 May 2021 Then Brown switched to video to broach the subject. — Ben Flanagan | Bflanagan@al.com, al, 19 June 2021

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'broach.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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First Known Use of broach

Noun

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb (1)

15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Verb (2)

1699, in the meaning defined above

History and Etymology for broach

Noun

Middle English broche "pointed instrument, brooch," borrowed from Anglo-French, "pointed object, brooch, spigot," going back to Vulgar Latin *brocca, noun derivative from feminine of Latin broccus "prominent, projecting," of uncertain origin

Verb (1)

Middle English brochen "to pierce, skewer (meat), tap (a cask)", borrowed from Anglo-French brocher "to prick, spur, stab," verbal derivative of broche "pointed object" — more at broach entry 1

Verb (2)

perhaps from broach entry 2

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Time Traveler for broach

The first known use of broach was in the 13th century

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Dictionary Entries Near broach

bro

broach

broached work

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Statistics for broach

Last Updated

24 Jul 2021

Cite this Entry

“Broach.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/broach. Accessed 15 Sep. 2021.

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More Definitions for broach

broach

noun

English Language Learners Definition of broach

: brooch

See the full definition for broach in the English Language Learners Dictionary

broach

verb
\ ˈbrōch \
broached; broaching

Kids Definition of broach

: to bring up as a subject for discussion She broached an idea.

broach

noun
\ ˈbrōch \

Medical Definition of broach

 (Entry 1 of 2)

: a fine tapered flexible instrument used in dentistry to remove dental pulp and to dress a root canal

broach

transitive verb

Medical Definition of broach (Entry 2 of 2)

: to open (a vein) to draw blood

More from Merriam-Webster on broach

Nglish: Translation of broach for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of broach for Arabic Speakers

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