Broad \Broad\ (br[add]d), a. [Compar. {Broader}
(br[add]d"[~e]r); superl. {Broadest}.] [OE. brod, brad, AS.
br[=a]d; akin to OS. br[=e]d, D. breed, G. breit, Icel.
brei[eth]r, Sw. & Dan. bred, Goth. braids. Cf. {Breadth}.]
1. Wide; extend in breadth, or from side to side; -- opposed
to {narrow}; as, a broad street, a broad table; an inch
broad.
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2. Extending far and wide; extensive; vast; as, the broad
expanse of ocean.
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3. Extended, in the sense of diffused; open; clear; full.
"Broad and open day." --Bp. Porteus.
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4. Fig.: Having a large measure of any thing or quality; not
limited; not restrained; -- applied to any subject, and
retaining the literal idea more or less clearly, the
precise meaning depending largely on the substantive.
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A broad mixture of falsehood. --Locke.
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Note: Hence:
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5. Comprehensive; liberal; enlarged.
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The words in the Constitution are broad enough to
include the case. --D. Daggett.
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In a broad, statesmanlike, and masterly way. --E.
Everett.
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6. Plain; evident; as, a broad hint.
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7. Free; unrestrained; unconfined.
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As broad and general as the casing air. --Shak.
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8. (Fine Arts) Characterized by breadth. See {Breadth}.
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9. Cross; coarse; indelicate; as, a broad compliment; a broad
joke; broad humor.
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10. Strongly marked; as, a broad Scotch accent.
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Note: Broad is often used in compounds to signify wide,
large, etc.; as, broad-chested, broad-shouldered,
broad-spreading, broad-winged.
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{Broad acres}. See under {Acre}.
{Broad arrow}, originally a pheon. See {Pheon}, and {Broad arrow} under {Arrow}.
{As broad as long}, having the length equal to the breadth;
hence, the same one way as another; coming to the same
result by different ways or processes.
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It is as broad as long, whether they rise to others,
or bring others down to them. --L'Estrange.
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{Broad pennant}. See under {Pennant}.
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Syn: Wide; large; ample; expanded; spacious; roomy;
extensive; vast; comprehensive; liberal.
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