Brood (?), n. [OE. brod, AS. brod; akin to D. broed, OHG. bruot, G. brut, and also to G. bruhe broth, MHG. brueje, and perh. to E. brawn, breath. Cf. Breed, v. t.]

1.

The young birds hatched at one time; a hatch; as, a brood of chicken.

As a hen doth gather her brood under her wings. Luke xiii. 34.

A hen followed by a brood of ducks. Spectator.

2.

The young from the same dam, whether produced at the same time or not; young children of the same mother, especially if nearly of the same age; offspring; progeny; as, a woman with a brood of children.

The lion roars and gluts his tawny brood. Wordsworth.

3.

That which is bred or produced; breed; species.

Flocks of the airy brood, (Cranes, geese or long-necked swans). Chapman.

4. Mining

Heavy waste in tin and copper ores.

To sit on brood, to ponder. [Poetic]

Shak.

 

© Webster 1913.


Brood, a.

1.

Sitting or inclined to sit on eggs.

2.

Kept for breeding from; as, a brood mare; brood stock; having young; as, a brood sow.

 

© Webster 1913.


Brood (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Brooded (#); p. pr. & vb. n. Brooding.]

1.

To sit on and cover eggs, as a fowl, for the purpose of warming them and hatching the young; or to sit over and cover young, as a hen her chickens, in order to warm and protect them; hence, to sit quietly, as if brooding.

Birds of calm sir brooding on the charmed wave. Milton.

2.

To have the mind dwell continuously or moodily on a subject; to think long and anxiously; to be in a state of gloomy, serious thought; -- usually followed by over or on; as, to brood over misfortunes.

Brooding on unprofitable gold. Dryden.

Brooding over all these matters, the mother felt like one who has evoked a spirit. Hawthorne.

When with downcast eyes we muse and brood. Tennyson.

 

© Webster 1913.


Brood (?), v. t.

1.

To sit over, cover, and cherish; as, a hen broods her chickens.

2.

To cherish with care.

[R.]

3.

To think anxiously or moodily upon.

You'll sit and brood your sorrows on a throne. Dryden.

 

© Webster 1913.

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