brute

¹ American  

[broot] / brut /

verb (used with object)

bruted, bruting

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

---

brute ² American  

[broot] / brut /

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 British  

/ 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

Related Words

See animal.

Other Word Forms

• brutelike adjective
• brutely adverb
• bruteness noun

Etymology

Origin of brute¹

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

Origin of brute¹

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

Example Sentences

South Africa have long relied on fast bowlers of rare quality, but this attack has evolved beyond brute force.

From BBC

And by the sheer brute force of its size, bond markets force both the subjects of its wrath, and the investors that rely on them, into submission.

From Barron's

Between the armor, the force from their charge, and the brute strength of the cows, the flood easily knocks Benefo’s house down.

From Literature

They were using ropes & brute force to pull the obelisk along the dock until it was very close to The Dessoug.

From Literature

But, he added, “I don’t believe that you take this brute force, across-the-board approach to AI in the business.”

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• beast
• critter
• lout