Brooks
[broo ks]
- Gwendolyn,1917–2000, U.S. poet and novelist.
- Phillips,1835–93, U.S. Protestant Episcopal bishop and pulpit orator.
- Van Wyck [van wahyk] /væn ˈwaɪk/, 1886–1963, U.S. author and critic.
- a male given name.
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brook1
[broo k]
- a small, natural stream of fresh water.
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Origin of brook1
before 900; Middle English; Old English brōc stream; cognate with Dutch broek, German Bruch marsh
brook2
[broo k]
- to bear; suffer; tolerate: I will brook no interference.
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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
Synonyms
See more synonyms for brook on Thesaurus.comtake, stand, endure, abide, stomach.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for brooks
Contemporary Examples
When Robert Haile pulled his own weapon, Brooks continued his stick-up.
Chicago’s Cops Don’t Even Get Investigated for Shooting People in the BackJustin Glawe
December 5, 2014
Brooks later joked of Obama, “[The President] said, David, which sort of wine would you like me to turn your water into?”
Brooks resigned his seat but was immediately returned by his district in a special election.
“Raising the ticket price, just because there is a big demand for tickets, was never an option for me,” Brooks said.
When Brooks went into his second song, an old hit called “Rodeo,” the cheers grew so loud it was hard to hear him sing.
Historical Examples
"This country ought to be full of brooks and creeks," he said to Pennington.
The Rock of ChickamaugaJoseph A. Altsheler
What drinks from the brooks and wells, and from the stones on the bank?
Classic MythsMary Catherine Judd
There were no rushes to make water-wheels of, and no brooks to set them turning in.
Wilfrid CumbermedeGeorge MacDonald
It receives some brooks, and abounds in excellent fish, and in alligators.
The History of LouisianaLe Page Du Pratz
That day they travelled ten leagues, crossed one river and two brooks.
The History of LouisianaLe Page Du Pratz
Brooks
- Geraldine . born 1955, Australian writer. Her novels include March (2005), which won the Pulitzer prize
- Mel, real name Melvyn Kaminsky . born 1926, US comedy writer, actor, and film director. His films include The Producers (1968), Blazing Saddles (1974), High Anxiety (1977), and Dracula: Dead and Loving It (1996)
- (Troyal) Garth. born 1962, US country singer and songwriter; his bestselling records include Ropin' the Wind (1991) and Scarecrow (2001)
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brook1
- a natural freshwater stream smaller than a river
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Word Origin
Old English brōc; related to Old High German bruoh swamp, Dutch broek
brook2
- (tr; usually used with a negative) to bear; tolerate
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Word Origin
Old English brūcan; related to Gothic brūkjan to use, Old High German brūhhan, Latin fruī to enjoy
Brook
- Peter (Paul Stephen). born 1925, British stage and film director, noted esp for his experimental work in the theatre
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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
Word Origin and History for brooks
brook
n.
"small stream," Old English broc "flowing stream, torrest," of obscure origin, probably from Proto-Germanic *broka- which yielded words in German (Bruch) and Dutch (broek) that have a sense of "marsh." In Sussex and Kent, it means "water-meadow," and in plural, "low, marshy ground."
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brook
v.
"to endure," Old English brucan "use, enjoy, possess; eat; cohabit with," from Proto-Germanic *bruk- "to make use of, enjoy" (cf. Old Saxon brukan, Old Frisian bruka, Old High German bruhhan, German brauchen "to use," Gothic brukjan), from PIE root *bhrug- "to make use of, have enjoyment of" (cf. Latin fructus). Sense of "use" applied to food led to "be able to digest," and by 16c. to "tolerate."
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper