broach

[brohch]

noun

1. Machinery.,  an elongated, tapered, serrated cutting tool for shaping and enlarging holes.

2. a spit for roasting meat.

3. a gimlet for tapping casks.

4. (in a lock) a pin receiving the barrel of a key.

5. Architecture.,  Also broach spire an octagonal spire rising directly from a tower without any intervening feature.

6. Masonry.,  a pointed tool for the rough dressing of stone.

7. brooch.

verb (used with object)

1. to enlarge and finish with a broach.

   Synonyms: advance, submit, propose, introduce

2. to mention or suggest for the first time.

   to broach a subject.

3. to draw (beer, liquor, etc.), as by tapping.

   to broach beer from a keg.

4. to tap or pierce.

5. Masonry.,  to shape or dress (a block of stone).

verb (used without object)

1. Nautical.,  (of a sailing vessel) to veer to windward.

2. to break the surface of water; rise from the sea, as a fish or a submarine.

broach

¹

/ brəʊtʃ /

verb

1. (tr) to initiate (a topic) for discussion

   to broach a dangerous subject

2. (tr) to tap or pierce (a container) to draw off (a liquid)

   to broach a cask

   to broach wine

3. (tr) to open in order to begin to use

   to broach a shipment

4. (intr) to break the surface of the water

   the trout broached after being hooked

5. (tr) machinery to enlarge and finish (a hole) by reaming

noun

1. a long tapered toothed cutting tool for enlarging holes

2. a spit for roasting meat, etc

3. a roof covering the corner triangle on the top of a square tower having an octagonal spire

4. a pin, forming part of some types of lock, that registers in the hollow bore of a key

5. a tool used for tapping casks

6. a less common spelling of brooch

broach

²

/ brəʊtʃ /

verb

1. nautical (usually foll by to) to cause (a sailing vessel) to swerve sharply and dangerously or (of a sailing vessel) to swerve sharply and dangerously in a following sea, so as to be broadside to the waves

Other Word Forms

• broacher noun
• unbroached adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of broach¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of broach¹

C14: from Old French broche , from Vulgar Latin brocca (unattested), from Latin brochus projecting

Origin of broach²

C18: perhaps from _broach ¹ in obsolete sense of turn on a spit

Example Sentences

USC had also broached the possibility with Notre Dame of moving the game to the first month of the season, in order to better balance its future slate of Big Ten travel.

From Los Angeles Times

The insiders shared that the idea of sending several thousand active-duty members of the military to the Windy City had been broached, but seemed unlikely.

From Salon

Daryl rarely, if ever, talked with his own parents about race, but he broaches these topics with his own children today.

From Salon

You also broach the subject of money and who makes what.

From Los Angeles Times

I began to keep myself up at night worrying about what to do, how to broach the subject of my lingering discontent.

From Salon

Related Words

• bring up 
• hint at www.thesaurus.com
• moot 
• touch on