noun
Uncommon
brook
bruuk
Brook (noun) means a small, natural stream of water. Example: “They waded across the shallow brook on their hike.”
noun
1
A small, natural stream of water.
""Most of them don't wash. Those who do usually plunge their head into some brook or rill, if there happens to be one about.""
— Norman Lindsay, The Flyaway Highway (1936)
"They waded across the shallow brook on their hike."
"A little brook runs through the field behind our house."
"Children were splashing in the brook and looking for tiny fish."
verb
1
To tolerate or put up with, especially something unwelcome (usually used in the negative).
"The coach would not brook any excuses for missing practice."
"My grandmother would never brook rudeness at her dinner table."
"The teacher will not brook any talking during the exam."
How to use brook
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEither a small stream, or, as a verb, to tolerate something (almost always used with "no," as in "brook no delay").
Common mistake
The verb sense is almost always negative — "will not brook" — and rarely appears in ordinary positive statements.
Common pairings
babbling brook
brook no argument
brook no delay
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Word forms
- Plural
- brooks
- Third person singular
- brooks
- Past tense
- brooked
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
They waded across the shallow _____ on their hike.
Etymology
The "stream" sense comes from Old English broc; the verb sense ("to endure") comes separately from Old English brūcan, meaning "to use" or "enjoy" — the same root that gives us "broker."
Synonyms
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Rhymes for brook
See all rhymes for brook →Frequently asked questions
What does “brook” mean?
The word “brook” means a small, natural stream of water. In plain terms, either a small stream, or, as a verb, to tolerate something (almost always used with "no," as in "brook no delay").
How do you pronounce “brook”?
“Brook” is pronounced bruuk (/bɹʊk/ in IPA).
How do you use “brook” in a sentence?
Here is “brook” used in a sentence: “They waded across the shallow brook on their hike.”
What part of speech is “brook”?
Depending on how it is used, “brook” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “brook” come from?
The word “brook” comes from Old English. The "stream" sense comes from Old English broc; the verb sense ("to endure") comes separately from Old English brūcan, meaning "to use" or "enjoy" — the same root that gives us "broker.".
Is “brook” a common word?
“Brook” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “brook” have?
“Brook” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a small, natural stream of water.
What is the difference between a brook and a stream?
A brook is specifically a small, natural stream of water, so it is essentially a smaller or narrower type of stream. "Stream" is the broader general term, while "brook" often carries a more picturesque or rural connotation.
What does it mean to "brook no argument"?
To "brook" something means to tolerate or put up with it, especially something unwelcome, and this verb is almost always used in the negative, as in "brook no argument" or "brook no delay." It implies a firm refusal to allow opposition or interference.
Is "brook" as a verb ever used in a positive sense?
No, "brook" as a verb meaning to tolerate is used almost exclusively in negative constructions, such as "will not brook" or "cannot brook." It is not typically used to say someone tolerates something happily.
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