brute

¹

[broot]

noun

1. a nonhuman creature; beast.

2. a brutal, insensitive, or crude person.

3. the animal qualities, desires, etc., of humankind.

   Father felt that rough games brought out the brute in us.

adjective

1. animal; not human.

2. not characterized by intelligence or reason; irrational.

3. characteristic of animals; of brutal character or quality.

4. savage; cruel.

   brute force.

5. carnal; sensual.

brute

²

[broot]

verb (used with object)

bruted, bruting 

1. to shape (a diamond) by rubbing with another diamond or a diamond chip.

brute

/ bruːt /

noun

1. 1. any animal except man; beast; lower animal

   2. ( as modifier )

      brute nature

2. a brutal person

adjective

1. wholly instinctive or physical (esp in the phrases brute strength, brute force )

2. without reason or intelligence

3. coarse and grossly sensual

Other Word Forms

• brutelike adjective
• brutely adverb
• bruteness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of brute¹

First recorded in 1425–50; late Middle English, from Middle French, from Latin brūtus “heavy, devoid of feeling, irrational”

Origin of brute²

First recorded in 1900–05; back formation from bruting “rough hewing (of a diamond),” partial translation of French brutage literally, “a roughing,” equivalent to brut “rough, raw” + -age; brute ¹, -age

Word History and Origins

Origin of brute¹

C15: from Latin brūtus heavy, irrational; related to gravis heavy

Synonym Study

See animal.

Example Sentences

The self-dubbed “Russian Machine” got there with brute force and a singular focus that prioritized scoring above all else.

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Vigilantes demand power, the brute authority to do as they please.

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Unlike LIV Golf, which it has been frequently compared to, R360 does not have the brute force of Saudi Arabian state money behind it.

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In high school, Raymond could afford to get by with brute force.

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However, with rain forecast for Melbourne on Saturday, Monye said brute power may be more important that intricate patterns of play.

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Related Words

• beast 
• critter 
• lout