breadth

[bredth, bretth, breth]

noun

1. the measure of the second largest dimension of a plane or solid figure; width.

2. an extent or piece of something of definite or full width or as measured by its width.

   a breadth of cloth.

3. freedom from narrowness or restraint; liberality.

   a person with great breadth of view.

   Synonyms: open-mindedness, impartiality, latitude

4. size in general; extent.

   Synonyms: compass, reach, range, scope, span

5. Art.,  a broad or general effect due to subordination of details or nonessentials.

breadth

/ brɛtθ, brɛdθ /

noun

1. the linear extent or measurement of something from side to side; width

2. a piece of fabric having a standard or definite width

3. distance, extent, size, or dimension

4. openness and lack of restriction, esp of viewpoint or interest; liberality

Other Word Forms

• breadthless adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of breadth¹

1515–25; earlier bredeth, equivalent to brede breadth ( Middle English; Old English brǣdu, equivalent to brǣd-, mutated variant of brād broad + -u noun suffix) + -th ¹ ( def. ) akin to German Breite, Gothic braidei

Word History and Origins

Origin of breadth¹

C16: from obsolete brēde (from Old English brǣdu , from brād _broad ) + _-th ¹ ; related to Gothic braidei , Old High German breitī

Example Sentences

Bonsu has brought together a collection of incredible breadth - from watercolours to photography to miniscule thorn carvings to political cartoons.

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A ruling at the Supreme Court in August limited the breadth of these cases.

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Over the years, she has operated a variety of trains across the length and breadth of India, sometimes navigating challenging terrain and harsh weather conditions.

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Executive producer Karen Wilson said the team travelled the "length and breadth of Ireland and the UK" before ending up in the North West, which had "stately homes and Dublin-style streets".

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Surveys and other research about exploding use of artificial intelligence in education reveal a breadth of insights — optimism, concerns and confusion — among educators and students alike.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• comprehensiveness www.thesaurus.com
• dimension 
• fullness 
• magnitude 
• range 
• scale 
• scope 
• size