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Brood - Meaning, Definition & English Examples

Brood refers to a group of young animals, especially birds, hatched at the same time. It can also mean to think deeply or worry persistently about something.

brood

/bruːd/ /bruːd/

Definition:

To think deeply about something in a worried or unhappy way, or a family of young animals.

Synonyms:

ponder, dwell, ruminate, mope

Part of Speech:

verb, noun

Antonyms:

rejoice, celebrate

Common Collocations:

brood over, brood about, brood on, brood hen

Derivatives:

brooding, broody

Usage Tips:

Use "brood" as a verb for deep thinking or as a noun for a group of young animals like birds.

Common Phrases:

brood over something, hen and her brood, brood about the past

Etymology:

From Old English "brōd," meaning offspring or to sit on eggs for hatching.

Examples:

  • 1. She sat alone to brood over her mistakes.
  • 2. The hen protected her brood from predators.
  • 3. He tends to brood when things go wrong.
  • 4. A brood of ducklings followed their mother across the pond.

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