BROOM Definition & Meaning

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broom

[broom, broom]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

an implement for sweeping, consisting of a brush of straw or stiff strands of synthetic material bound tightly to the end of a long handle.
any shrubby plant belonging to the genus Genista or the genus Cytisus, of the legume family, especially C. scoparius, common in Western Europe on uncultivated ground and having long, slender branches bearing yellow flowers.
Building Trades.��the crushed and spread part at the head of a wooden pile after driving.

verb (used with object)

to sweep.
Broom the porch.
to splinter or fray mechanically.
to crush and spread the top of (a piling, tent peg, etc.) by pounding or driving with a hammer or the like.
to brush (freshly poured concrete) with a broom to give a nonskid surface, as to walks or driveways.

verb (used without object)

(of a piling, tent peg, etc.) to be crushed and spread at the top from being driven.

broom

/ bruːm, brʊm /

noun

an implement for sweeping consisting of a long handle to which is attached either a brush of straw, bristles, or twigs, bound together, or a solid head into which are set tufts of bristles or fibres
any of various yellow-flowered Eurasian leguminous shrubs of the genera Cytisus , Genista , and Spartium , esp C. scoparius
any of various similar Eurasian plants of the related genera Genista and Spartium
a newly appointed official, etc, eager to make changes

verb

(tr) to sweep with a broom

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Pronunciation Note

Broom and room occur with the vowel of fool or of book. The first is the more common. The pronunciation with the of book is found in New England, eastern Virginia, and South Carolina and Georgia alongside the pronunciation. Farther west the pronunciation is more common, though the pronunciation with the vowel of book occurs everywhere with no marked regional or social pattern. Both pronunciations occur in British standard and folk speech. The pronunciation with predominates in the eastern counties, everywhere else. London lies on the boundary between the two types, and it is thus not surprising that is found in the United States in the coastal areas that had long and close contact with England.

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51�Թ� History and Origins

Origin of broom¹

before 1000; Middle English brome, Old English ��ō��; cognate with Dutch braam bramble, German Bram broom

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51�Թ� History and Origins

Origin of broom¹

Old English ��ō�� ; related to Old High German ��峾�� , Middle Dutch bremme

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Idioms and Phrases

see new broom sweeps clean.

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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

It ends with Elphaba saying she's "off to see the wizard" before flying on a broom into the distance.

From

To keep things clean, there’s a wooden broom he can sweep out leaves and other detritus.

From

Coming off two inspirational wins in this three-game weekend showdown against their American League twin, the Dodgers ate the broom.

From

She said other homeless people in the alley along the warehouse have stolen brooms and coveralls that she said cost up to $100 each.

From

And so it begins again - a new manager hunt leading to a new broom in the dressing room.

From

Related 51�Թ�s

mop��

brooky broomball

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