broach

[ brohch ]

noun

1. Machinery. an elongated, tapered, serrated cutting tool for shaping and enlarging holes.
2. a spit for roasting meat.
3. a gimlet for tapping casks.
4. (in a lock) a pin receiving the barrel of a key.
5. Also broach spire. Architecture. an octagonal spire rising directly from a tower without any intervening feature.
6. Masonry. a pointed tool for the rough dressing of stone.
7. brooch.

verb (used with object)

1. to enlarge and finish with a broach.

   Synonyms: advance, submit, propose, introduce

2. to mention or suggest for the first time:

   to broach a subject.

3. to draw (beer, liquor, etc.), as by tapping:

   to broach beer from a keg.

4. to tap or pierce.
5. Masonry. to shape or dress (a block of stone).

verb (used without object)

1. Nautical. (of a sailing vessel) to veer to windward.
2. to break the surface of water; rise from the sea, as a fish or a submarine.

broach

¹

/ brəʊtʃ /

verb

1. nautical usually foll by to to cause (a sailing vessel) to swerve sharply and dangerously or (of a sailing vessel) to swerve sharply and dangerously in a following sea, so as to be broadside to the waves

broach

²

/ brəʊtʃ /

verb

1. tr to initiate (a topic) for discussion

   to broach a dangerous subject

2. tr to tap or pierce (a container) to draw off (a liquid)

   to broach a cask

   to broach wine

3. tr to open in order to begin to use

   to broach a shipment

4. intr to break the surface of the water

   the trout broached after being hooked

5. tr machinery to enlarge and finish (a hole) by reaming

noun

1. a long tapered toothed cutting tool for enlarging holes
2. a spit for roasting meat, etc
3. a roof covering the corner triangle on the top of a square tower having an octagonal spire
4. a pin, forming part of some types of lock, that registers in the hollow bore of a key
5. a tool used for tapping casks
6. a less common spelling of brooch

Derived Forms

• ˈbroacher, noun

Other Words From

• broach·er noun
• un·broached adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of broach¹

1175–1225; (noun) Middle English broche < Anglo-French, Old French < Vulgar Latin *brocca spike, horn, tap of a cask ( Medieval Latin broca ), noun use of feminine of Latin adj. brocc ( h ) us projecting (said of teeth); (v.) Middle English brochen < Old French broch ( i ) er, derivative of the noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of broach¹

C18: perhaps from broach ¹in obsolete sense of turn on a spit

Origin of broach²

C14: from Old French broche , from Vulgar Latin brocca (unattested), from Latin brochus projecting

Example Sentences

Woven into the very fabric of its characters, Masters uses sex to broach bigger topics.

From The Daily Beast

CEO Mark Thompson for his advice on how she should broach the subject with Baquet and try to get his assent.

From The Daily Beast

White was unafraid to broach the notion that life is not only mysterious but sometimes completely inexplicable.

From The Daily Beast

Some of his supporters remain so passionate that the subject can be difficult to broach.

From The Daily Beast

Now as always, Republicans need bipartisan cover to broach the subject of serious budget cutting.

From The Daily Beast

From the use of a similar instrument to tap casks, comes "to broach" or "tap" a cask.

From Project Gutenberg

Again and again I asked myself this question, but I dared not broach it to my relatives.

From Project Gutenberg

To broach a pipe, pierce it with an auger or gimlet, four fingers- breadth over the lower rim, so that the dregs may not rise.

From Project Gutenberg

An application was at once determined on to her, and Stead was employed to broach the subject to the diviner.

From Project Gutenberg

He stood like one in a dream, unable to decide how to broach the subject that had brought him there.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• bring up
• hint at
• moot
• touch on