brood
15 synonyms for brood, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — A group of young animals, especially birds, hatched or raised together.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Synonyms by Meaning
1. noun
A group of young animals, especially birds, hatched or raised together.
“The hen led her brood of chicks across the yard.”
How to use brood
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
brood of chicks
brood over something
a whole brood
Etymology
From Old English brōd ("brood, hatching"), tracing back to a very old root meaning "heat" or "breeding warmth."
Full origin of brood →Frequently asked questions
What does “brood” mean?
The word “brood” means a group of young animals, especially birds, hatched or raised together. In plain terms, a litter or group of young offspring (especially birds), or — as a verb — sitting on eggs, or sulking and dwelling on negative thoughts.
How do you pronounce “brood”?
“Brood” is pronounced brood (/bɹud/ in IPA).
How do you use “brood” in a sentence?
Here is “brood” used in a sentence: “The hen led her brood of chicks across the yard.”
What part of speech is “brood”?
Depending on how it is used, “brood” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “brood” come from?
The word “brood” comes from Old English. From Old English brōd ("brood, hatching"), tracing back to a very old root meaning "heat" or "breeding warmth.".
Is “brood” a common word?
“Brood” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the C2 level.
How many meanings does “brood” have?
“Brood” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a group of young animals, especially birds, hatched or raised together.
