noun
brigade
brih-GAYD
noun
1
A large military unit made up of several battalions or regiments.
"The brigade was deployed to reinforce the front line."
2
A group of people organized for a shared purpose or sharing a common trait.
"The fire brigade arrived within minutes of the alarm."
"A brigade of volunteers cleaned up the beach after the storm."
verb
1
To coordinate an organized group, often online, to harass or overwhelm someone.
"The forum was brigaded by users from a rival community."
How to Use Brigade
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA large organized group, especially a military unit or volunteer force; also, online, a coordinated pile-on.
Common pairings
fire brigade
infantry brigade
brigade of volunteers
Word Forms
brigaded past tense, brigades plural, brigades singular
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The _____ was deployed to reinforce the front line.
Etymology
Borrowed from French brigade, ultimately from Italian brigata, related to briga ("strife, trouble").