brute

¹

[broot]

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

²

[broot]

verb (used with object)

bruted, bruting 

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

brute

/ 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

Other Word Forms

• brutelike adjective
• brutely adverb
• bruteness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of brute¹

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

Origin of brute²

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of brute¹

C15: from Latin brūtus heavy, irrational; related to gravis heavy

Synonym Study

See animal.

Example Sentences

In high school, Raymond could afford to get by with brute force.

From Los Angeles Times

However, with rain forecast for Melbourne on Saturday, Monye said brute power may be more important that intricate patterns of play.

From BBC

Presenting “The Americana Revolution” feels timely – urgent, even – owing to this administration’s brute force efforts to revise America’s history and laws in ways that would have made the nation’s founders recoil.

From Salon

Except from behind the windshield, where he views the world as teeming with schemers and brutes, acting on all manner of Machiavellian impulses.

From Los Angeles Times

McMaster claimed he never used brute force and had not intended to harm Jamie, who was aged between nine and 13 during the period of abuse.

From BBC

Related Words

• beast 
• critter 
• lout