brook

¹ American  

[brook] / brʊk /

noun

1. a small, natural stream of fresh water.

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brook ² American  

[brook] / brʊk /

verb (used with object)

1. to bear; suffer; tolerate.

   I will brook no interference.

   Synonyms:

   stomach, abide, endure, stand, take

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Brook ¹ British  

/ brʊk /

noun

1. Peter ( Paul Stephen ). born 1925, British stage and film director, noted esp for his experimental work in the theatre

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brook ² British  

/ brʊk /

noun

1. a natural freshwater stream smaller than a river

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brook ³ British  

/ brʊk /

verb

1. (tr; usually used with a negative) to bear; tolerate

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Other Word Forms

• brookable adjective
• brookless adjective
• brooklike adjective

Etymology

Origin of brook¹

before 900; Middle English; Old English brōc stream; cognate with Dutch broek, German Bruch marsh

Origin of brook²

before 900; Middle English brouken, Old English brūcan; cognate with Dutch bruiken, German brauchen; akin to Gothic brukjan, Latin fruī to enjoy

Example Sentences

A man has died after he entered a flooded brook during a police chase.

From BBC

I could already hear the brook calling to me through the back door screen.

From Literature

The sound led him to a small brook, overgrown with foliage.

From Literature

Critics say Kainerugaba has brooked little opposition in the country, acting decisively against anyone perceived as a threat to his father's administration.

From BBC

But because she’s telling the worst men what they want to hear, Stuckey has created space for herself to live out the usually male role of being the pompous bully who will brook no dissent.

From Salon

Related Words

• countenance
• tolerate