Broach

Pronunciation

• UK IPA: /bɹəʊtʃ/
• US IPA: /bɹoÊŠtʃ/
• Rhymes: -əʊtʃ
• Homophones: brooch

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

Online Etymology Dictionary

Full definition of broach

Noun

1. A series of chisel points mounted on one piece of steel.
2. (masonry) A broad chisel for stone-cutting.
3. Alternative spelling of brooch
4. A spit for cooking food.
• Francis BaconHe turned a broach that had worn a crown.
5. An awl; a bodkin; also, a wooden rod or pin, sharpened at each end, used by thatchers.
6. (architecture, UK, dialect) A spire rising from a tower.
7. A spit-like start on the head of a young stag.
8. The stick from which candle wicks are suspended for dipping.
9. The pin in a lock which enters the barrel of the key.

Verb

1. (transitive) To make a hole in, especially a cask of liquor, and put in a tap in order to draw the liquid.
2. (transitive) To open, to make an opening into; to pierce.French knights at Agincourt were unable to broach the English line.
3. (begin discussion about) (transitive, figuratively) To begin discussion about (something).I broached the subject of contraceptives carefully when the teenager mentioned his promiscuity.
• 1913, D. H. Lawrence, ,Yet he was much too much scared of broaching any man, let alone one in a peaked cap, to dare to ask.
• 1918, Edgar Rice Burroughs, The Land That Time Forgot (novel) Chapter VII have tried on several occasions to broach the subject of my love to Lys; but she will not listen.

Related terms

• brochure

Verb

1. (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.
2. (transitive) To cause to turn sideways to oncoming waves, especially large or breaking waves.
3. (transitive) 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.