bromide

[broh-mahyd, broh-mid]

noun

1. Chemistry.

   1. a salt of hydrobromic acid consisting of two elements, one of which is bromine, as sodium bromide, NaBr.

   2. a compound containing bromine, as methyl bromide.

2. Pharmacology.,  potassium bromide, known to produce central nervous system depression, formerly used as a sedative.

3. a platitude or trite saying.

4. a person who is platitudinous and boring.

bromide

/ ˈbrəʊmaɪd /

noun

1. any salt of hydrobromic acid, containing the monovalent ion Br ^– ( bromide ion )

2. any compound containing a bromine atom, such as methyl bromide

3. a dose of sodium or potassium bromide given as a sedative

4. 1. a trite saying; platitude

   2. a dull or boring person

bromide

1. A compound, such as potassium bromide, containing bromine and another element or radical.

Other Word Forms

• subbromide noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of bromide¹

First recorded in 1830–40; brom- + -ide ( def. ); bromide in defs. 3, 4 from use of some bromides as sedatives

Word History and Origins

Origin of bromide¹

C19, C20 (cliché): from _brom ( _ine ) + _-ide

Example Sentences

The letter is full of unmemorable bromides and has none of the moving language used by Reagan and other presidents.

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The bromide about teams picking the best available player rather than drafting for need does not apply to the Angels, at least not in the Perry Minasian era.

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But Lee, wise to how the heart stutters, didn’t pander to audiences with bromides like love is love.

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Of course, she hit on other points as well, but never did she offer anything other than the bromides the Democrats have been mouthing for as long as anybody can remember.

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What rankled Didion about this turn was that it reduced the complexity of all issues to tidy bromides.

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Related Words

• cliché