noun
brood
brood
noun
1
A group of young animals, especially birds, hatched or raised together.
"The hen led her brood of chicks across the yard."
2
Informal term for the children of one family.
"She raised her brood of five kids mostly on her own."
verb
1
Of a bird, to sit on eggs to keep them warm until they hatch.
"The hen brooded over her eggs for three weeks."
2
To dwell unhappily on one's thoughts, often alone.
"He spent the whole weekend brooding over the argument."
How to Use Brood
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA litter or group of young offspring (especially birds), or — as a verb — sitting on eggs, or sulking and dwelling on negative thoughts.
Common pairings
brood of chicks
brood over something
a whole brood
Word Forms
brooded past tense, broods plural, broods singular
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The hen led her _____ of chicks across the yard.
Etymology
From Old English brōd ("brood, hatching"), tracing back to a very old root meaning "heat" or "breeding warmth."