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Synonyms

brooch

American  
[brohch, brooch] / broʊtʃ, brutʃ /

noun

  1. a clasp or ornament having a pin at the back for passing through the clothing and a catch for securing the point of the pin.


brooch British  
/ brəʊtʃ /

noun

  1. an ornament with a hinged pin and catch, worn fastened to clothing

"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

Other Word Forms

Etymology

Origin of brooch

1175–1225; Middle English broche broach, differentiated in spelling since circa 1600

Explanation

That fancy pin your Grandma used to wear on her blouse or lapel? It's a brooch, held in place by a sharp needle clasp. Okay, it's a bit unfair to say Grandmothers alone wear brooches, but they do tend to be worn more by powerful older women — witness Margaret Thatcher and Madeleine Albright (both noted brooch wearers). Not surprisingly, brooch is derived from the old French word brooch, meaning "a long needle."

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Vocabulary lists containing brooch

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Brooch moulds, pins, strap-ends, weaving and textile-making equipment, as well as some gaming pieces - reflecting Viking enthusiasm for board games - were also examined.

From BBC • Apr. 2, 2024

A pair of small square-headed brooches were also excavated - a miniature form of the great square-headed brooch, such as the famous Chessell Down Brooch on display at the British Museum.

From BBC • Jun. 15, 2022

One is this annual presentation from Pig Brooch Theater Company.

From New York Times • Dec. 6, 2018

The Pig Brooch Theater Company presents “A Charlie Brown Christmas,” a stage adaptation of the 1965 animated television special based on the Charles Schulz comic strip, with music by Vince Guaraldi.

From New York Times • Dec. 12, 2013

If the Tara Brooch appeals to our imagination by reason of the mystery of its past, Saint Patrick's Bell has a contrary but even stronger hold upon us.

From Stories about Famous Precious Stones by Orpen, Mrs Goddard

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