broil

[ broil ]

See synonyms for broil on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object)

to cook by direct heat, as on a gridiron over the heat or in an oven under the heat; grill: to broil a steak.
to scorch; make very hot.

verb (used without object)

to be subjected to great heat; become broiled.
to burn with impatience, annoyance, etc.

noun

the act or state of broiling; state of being broiled.
something broiled, especially meat: She ordered a beef broil and salad.

Origin of broil

1300–50; Middle English brulen, brolyn, broillen<Anglo-French bruill(i)er, broil(l)er,Old French brusler, brul(l)er to burn (French brûler), a conflation of the verbs represented by Old French bruir to burn (<Frankish *brōjan; compare Middle High German brü(ej)en,German brühen to scald) and usler<Latin ustulāre to scorch

Other words from broil

broil·ing·ly, adverb

Other definitions for broil (2 of 2)

broil²

[ broil ]

noun

an angry quarrel or struggle; disturbance; tumult: a violent broil over who was at fault.

verb (used without object)

to quarrel; brawl.

Origin of broil

1400–50; late Middle English broylen to present in disorder, quarrel <Anglo-French, Old French broiller to jumble together <Gallo-Romance *brodiculāre, equivalent to *brod- (<Germanic; see broth, brewis) + Late Latin -iculāre v. suffix

Other words from broil

broil·ing·ly, adverb

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use broil in a sentence

For years now, healthy well-intentioned hipster hate has broiled on culture blogs.
Trends That Need to End in 2010 | Natasha Vargas-Cooper | December 29, 2009 | THE DAILY BEAST
Broiled Chicken with Honey and Lemon by Helen Nash This chicken is ridiculously simple and delicious.
The Caviar of Condiments Under Threat | Katie Workman | September 15, 2009 | THE DAILY BEAST
This one blends the gutter and academia into a sun-bleached masterpiece of sex and violence in hard- broiled Miami Beach.
Michael Connelly's Book Picks | Michael Connelly | June 2, 2009 | THE DAILY BEAST
He stirred the smoldering ashes till the broiled fowl began to sizzle afresh.
The Awakening and Selected Short Stories | Kate Chopin
The cook, placed upon her mettle, served a delicious repast—a luscious tenderloin broiled a point.
The Awakening and Selected Short Stories | Kate Chopin

The husband returned to the breakfast-table; he smelt the broiled ham and eggs, and he heard his wife's commands.
Ruth | Elizabeth Cleghorn Gaskell
Of course she had her own way, but I made her wait until we had cooked some corn to a mush and I had broiled the turkey.
A Virginia Scout | Hugh Pendexter
The same day se'night he was again brought to the stake, where the vile tormentors rather broiled than burnt him.
Fox's Book of Martyrs | John Foxe

British Dictionary definitions for broil (1 of 2)

broil¹

/ (brɔɪl) /

verb

mainly US and Canadian to cook (meat, fish, etc) by direct heat, as under a grill or over a hot fire, or (of meat, fish, etc) to be cooked in this way: Usual equivalent (in Britain and other countries): grill
to become or cause to become extremely hot

(intr) to be furious

noun

the process of broiling
something broiled

Origin of broil

C14: from Old French bruillir to burn, of uncertain origin

British Dictionary definitions for broil (2 of 2)

broil²

/ (brɔɪl) archaic /

noun

a loud quarrel or disturbance; brawl

verb

(intr) to brawl; quarrel

Origin of broil

C16: from Old French brouiller to mix, from breu broth; see brewis, brose

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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