broach
Americannoun
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broaches
plural
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Machinery. an elongated, tapered, serrated cutting tool for shaping and enlarging holes.
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a spit for roasting meat.
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a gimlet for tapping casks.
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(in a lock) a pin receiving the barrel of a key.
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Architecture. Also broach spire an octagonal spire rising directly from a tower without any intervening feature.
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Masonry. a pointed tool for the rough dressing of stone.
verb (used with object)
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broaches,
present (3rd person singular)
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broached,
past participle, past
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broaching
present participle
verb (used without object)
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broaches,
present (3rd person singular)
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broached,
past participle, past
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broaching
present participle
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Nautical. (of a sailing vessel) to veer to windward.
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to break the surface of water; rise from the sea, as a fish or a submarine.
verb
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(tr) to initiate (a topic) for discussion
to broach a dangerous subject
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(tr) to tap or pierce (a container) to draw off (a liquid)
to broach a cask
to broach wine
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(tr) to open in order to begin to use
to broach a shipment
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(intr) to break the surface of the water
the trout broached after being hooked
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(tr) machinery to enlarge and finish (a hole) by reaming
noun
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a long tapered toothed cutting tool for enlarging holes
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a spit for roasting meat, etc
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a roof covering the corner triangle on the top of a square tower having an octagonal spire
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a pin, forming part of some types of lock, that registers in the hollow bore of a key
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a tool used for tapping casks
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a less common spelling of brooch
verb
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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broachsimple
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broachessimple
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have broachedperfect
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has broachedperfect
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am broachingprogressive
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are broachingprogressive
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is broachingprogressive
-
have been broachingperfect progressive
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has been broachingperfect progressive
Past
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broachedsimple
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had broachedperfect
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was broachingprogressive
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were broachingprogressive
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had been broachingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of broach
1175–1225; (noun) Middle English broche < Anglo-French, Old French < Vulgar Latin *brocca spike, horn, tap of a cask ( Medieval Latin broca ), noun use of feminine of Latin adj. brocc ( h ) us projecting (said of teeth); (v.) Middle English brochen < Old French broch ( i ) er, derivative of the noun
Explanation
Broach means to bring up or introduce a sensitive issue. If your best friend has severe phobia of spiders, you might want to delicately broach the topic of your new pet tarantula, Mr. Fuzzy. Let's say you want to go on vacation with a friend and you ask your dad because he is more likely to say yes. He will probably tell you that he will broach the subject with your mom and let you know. In a less common (and older) usage of broach, if you put a hole in something in order to get out what's inside you broach it. The piercing tool you use is also called a broach. Think of piercing someone with your idea the next time you broach a touchy issue.
Vocabulary lists containing broach
Some Tricky Homonyms
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100 SAT Words Beginning with "B"
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Their Eyes Were Watching God
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
I did not broach the topic despite thinking it might be a meaningful angle to explore.
From Salon ● Jul. 27, 2026
How to broach a prenup with your partner.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 1, 2026
But there are many areas where Beijing and Berlin disagree, from trade practices to human rights, and Reiche will likely broach some of these.
From Barron's ● May 27, 2026
Sending a letter or an email to your estranged child could be a good way to broach the subject of reconciliation, say some therapists.
From BBC ● Jan. 31, 2026
Because they were open-minded and liberal, Charles knew he could broach with them some of the radical scientific thoughts he was beginning to have.
From "Charles and Emma: The Darwins' Leap of Faith" by Deborah Heiligman
Daryl rarely, if ever, talked with his own parents about race, but he broaches these topics with his own children today.
From Salon ● Aug. 18, 2025
Therefore, you’ll discover suits with appliqué dot patches and frayed edges as well as dog-tag necklaces and sophisticated wire broaches on mini Scottish kilt pins.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 1, 2024
With the focus on tailoring, accents were few: tassels on a scarf, gleaming floral broaches, spare use of lace and sequins.
From Seattle Times ● Jan. 13, 2024
She broaches delicate subjects in phone calls late at night, she said, when clients can curl up on the couch, maybe feeling like they’re “talking to a stranger on the bus.”
From New York Times ● Jan. 5, 2023
The faster your lifeboat broaches to the waves, the better.
From "Life of Pi" by Yann Martel
Gor broached the topic during a meeting held at the home of casino magnate Steve Wynn and his wife Andrea, a fellow board member, according to a person familiar with the events.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 11, 2026
Property records show that Wyle also broached the idea of selling his longtime home in Santa Ynez, a sprawling 80-acre estate that he moved to as “ER” was coming to an end.
From MarketWatch ● Jan. 22, 2026
Justice Amy Coney Barrett broached this topic with ADF lawyer James Campbell, but he did not have a coherent answer.
From Slate ● Oct. 7, 2025
Pressed on what this would look like, he said he did not have specific details but broached the possibility of more weapons, air defences and drones.
From BBC ● Sep. 24, 2025
The Castle of the Forest Sauvage is still stunning, and you can see its lovely ruined walla with ivy on them, standing broached to the sun and wind.
From "The Once and Future King" by T. H. White
But that didn’t stop Mr. Wyden from broaching the costly topic again in his white paper.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 11, 2026
When broaching this conversation, don’t go straight into money talk, says Matt Abrahams, a communication consultant and lecturer in organizational behavior at Stanford University.
From MarketWatch ● Apr. 25, 2026
The teacher said providing a creative outlet made it easier for some to begin broaching painful topics.
From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 19, 2025
A yellow warning of rain is also in place for mid and north Wales on Monday, with the Afon Glaslyn in Beddgelert, Gwynedd, nearly broaching the garden wall of a house nearby.
From BBC ● Dec. 1, 2025
Chacko said, finally broaching the real reason for his visit.
From "The God of Small Things" by Arundhati Roy
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
