broad (broader comparative) (broadest superlative )
1 adj Something that is broad is wide., (Antonym: narrow)
His shoulders were broad and his waist narrow..., The hills rise green and sheer above the broad river., ...a broad expanse of green lawn.
2 adj A broad smile is one in which your mouth is stretched very wide because you are very pleased or amused.
usu ADJ n
He greeted them with a wave and a broad smile.
broadly adv
Charles grinned broadly.
3 adj You use broad to describe something that includes a large number of different things or people.
usu ADJ n
(=wide) (Antonym: narrow)
A broad range of issues was discussed., ...a broad coalition of workers, peasants, students and middle class professionals.
broadly adv ADV with v
This gives children a more broadly based education.
4 adj You use broad to describe a word or meaning which covers or refers to a wide range of different things.
usu ADJ n
(=general) (Antonym: narrow)
The term Wissenschaft has a much broader meaning than the English word `science'., ...restructuring in the broad sense of the word.
broadly adv ADV with v
We define education very broadly and students can study any aspect of its consequences for society.
5 adj You use broad to describe a feeling or opinion that is shared by many people, or by people of many different kinds.
ADJ n
(=widespread) (Antonym: limited)
The agreement won broad support in the US Congress., ...a film with broad appeal.
broadly adv ADV with v
The new law has been broadly welcomed by road safety organisations.
6 adj A broad description or idea is general rather than detailed.
usu ADJ n
(=general)
These documents provided a broad outline of the Society's development..., In broad terms, this means that the closer you live to a school, the more likely it is that your child will get a place there.
broadly adv ADV with v, ADV with cl/group
There are, broadly speaking, three ways in which this is done..., Broadly, it makes connections between ideas about healing and how they link to plants.
7 adj A broad hint is a very obvious hint.
ADJ n (Antonym: subtle)
They've been giving broad hints about what to expect.
broadly adv
He hinted broadly that he would like to come.
8 adj A broad accent is strong and noticeable.
...a Briton who spoke in a broad Yorkshire accent.
9 →
broadly →
in broad daylight →
daylight
broad bean (broad beans plural )Broad beans are flat round beans that are light green in colour and are eaten as a vegetable.
(mainly BRIT) n-count usu pl
in AM, use fava beans
broad-brush , broad brush
A broad-brush approach, strategy, or solution deals with a problem in a general way rather than concentrating on details. adj usu ADJ n
He's giving a broad brush approach to the subject.
broad-minded , broadminded
If you describe someone as broad-minded, you approve of them because they are willing to accept types of behaviour which other people consider immoral. adj
(approval, Antonym: narrow-minded)
...a fair and broad-minded man.
