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| Language: | Old English |
| Origin: | brad |
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broad1 S2 W2
1 a road, river, or part of someone's body etc that is broad is wide [≠ narrow; ↪ breadth]: 
We went along a broad passage.He was six feet tall, with broad shoulders. ➔ see usage note wide1
wide
We went along a broad passage.He was six feet tall, with broad shoulders.2 including many different kinds of things or people [≠ narrow; ↪ breadth]: The show aims to reach the broadest possible audience.
including a lot
The show aims to reach the broadest possible audience.3 concerning the main ideas or parts of something rather than all the details :
general
4 covering a large area : a broad expanse of water
large area
a broad expanse of water5 a broad accent clearly shows where you come from [= strong]: a broad Scottish accent
way of speaking
a broad Scottish accent7 if something, especially a crime, happens in broad daylight, it happens in the daytime and in public : The attack happened in broad daylight, in one of the busiest parts of town.
in broad daylight
The attack happened in broad daylight, in one of the busiest parts of town.8 a hint (=suggestion) that is very clear and easy to understand : In June he gave a broad hint that he might retire.
broad hint
In June he gave a broad hint that he might retire.9 an organization that contains a wide range of opinions : The Labour Party has to be a broad church.
a broad church
British EnglishThe Labour Party has to be a broad church.10 broad humour is rather rude or concerned with sex
humour
WORD CHOICE: WORD CHOICE:
wide, thick, broadWide is used to talk about the distance across something such as a road or river. It is also used to talk about the distance from one side to the other of an object • a doorway two metres wideThick is usually used to talk about the distance between the two largest surfaces of an object • The steel doors are four inches thick.Broad can often be used instead of wide, but it is slightly literary • broad, graceful avenuesBroad is always used with shoulders and back • a big man with broad (NOT wide) shouldersWide is used with nouns such as range, variety, and choice to say that something includes a lot of different things.Broad is used with nouns such as outline, picture, and description to say that a description is general rather than specific. ➔ See also wide
WORD CHOICE: wide, thick, broadWide is used to talk about the distance across something such as a road or river. It is also used to talk about the distance from one side to the other of an object • a doorway two metres wideThick is usually used to talk about the distance between the two largest surfaces of an object • The steel doors are four inches thick.Broad can often be used instead of wide, but it is slightly literary • broad, graceful avenuesBroad is always used with shoulders and back • a big man with broad (NOT wide) shouldersWide is used with nouns such as range, variety, and choice to say that something includes a lot of different things.Broad is used with nouns such as outline, picture, and description to say that a description is general rather than specific. ➔ See also wide
