broil

[ broil ]

See synonyms for: broil broiled broiling 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

Place the chiles on a baking sheet and broil, turning every few minutes, until blackened on all sides, about 15 minutes.
How to Cook with Plant-Based Beef | Christine Byrne | January 16, 2021 | Outside Online
Return the baking sheet to the oven on the rack in the upper third and broil until the glaze is bubbling and slightly darkened, two to four minutes.
Harissa-glazed turkey legs with sweet potatoes deliver big flavor on a budget | Becky Krystal | November 10, 2020 | Washington Post
A gaggle of adolescent dragons intent on flame-broiling every goat in Meereen.
Game of Thrones’ Ep. 6, ‘The Laws of Gods and Men’: The Riveting Trial of Tyrion Lannister | Andrew Romano | May 12, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
He emerged from the broiling heat into cold that needed only a minute to turn his wet gear to ice.
Eight Year Old Rides to a Blaze With His Firefighter Grandfather | Michael Daly | January 19, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
By night, the crowd (multihued, it should be noted) had become a broiling mass.
‘Has Beverly Hills Fallen Yet?’ | Shelby Coffey III | April 26, 2012 | THE DAILY BEAST

Above the entrance—grewsome and realistic spectacle—is poor St. Lawrence broiling away on his stone gridiron!
Italian Days and Ways | Anne Hollingsworth Wharton
Here is a scene from Rentsch, which falls out in Friedrich's time; and which brought much battling and broiling to him and his.
History Of Friedrich II. of Prussia, Vol. III. (of XXI.) | Thomas Carlyle
Even the West-end was hot and steamy on that broiling August day.
Littlebourne Lock | F. Bayford Harrison
He was the only member of the outfit who never seemed to mind the broiling mid-day heat.
The Pony Rider Boys in Texas | Frank Gee Patchin
Broiling is a very convenient way of cooking meat, because it is very quick, and it makes meat very tasty and very wholesome.
Little Folks (November 1884) | Various

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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