noun
Uncommon
broom
broom
Broom (noun) means a cleaning tool with bristles on a long handle, used for sweeping floors. Example: “He grabbed a broom to sweep up the broken glass.”
noun
1
A cleaning tool with bristles on a long handle, used for sweeping floors.
"He grabbed a broom to sweep up the broken glass."
2
A shrub with small leaves and yellow flowers, from the pea family.
"Yellow broom grew wild along the hillside."
verb
1
To sweep with a broom.
"She broomed the leaves off the porch."
How to use broom
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe sweeping tool with bristles, or a small yellow-flowered shrub the tool was traditionally made from.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
sweep with a broom
broom and dustpan
yellow broom
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like broom.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Plural
- brooms
- Third person singular
- brooms
- Past tense
- broomed
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
He grabbed a _____ to sweep up the broken glass.
Etymology
From Old English brōm ("brushwood"); the shrub was originally what broom-brushes were made from, and the cleaning tool eventually took the plant's name.
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for broom
See all rhymes for broom →Frequently asked questions
What does “broom” mean?
The word “broom” means a cleaning tool with bristles on a long handle, used for sweeping floors. In plain terms, the sweeping tool with bristles, or a small yellow-flowered shrub the tool was traditionally made from.
How do you pronounce “broom”?
“Broom” is pronounced broom (/bɹuːm/ in IPA).
How do you use “broom” in a sentence?
Here is “broom” used in a sentence: “He grabbed a broom to sweep up the broken glass.”
What part of speech is “broom”?
Depending on how it is used, “broom” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “broom” come from?
The word “broom” comes from Old English. From Old English brōm ("brushwood"); the shrub was originally what broom-brushes were made from, and the cleaning tool eventually took the plant's name.
Is “broom” a common word?
“Broom” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “broom” have?
“Broom” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a cleaning tool with bristles on a long handle, used for sweeping floors.
Featured in
Vocabulary lists that include broom:
