Broad \Broad\, a. [Compar. Broader; superl. Broadest.]
[OE.
brod, brad, AS. br[=a]d; akin to OS. br[=e]d, D. breed, G.
breit, Icel. brei?r, Sw. & Dan. bred, Goth. braids. Cf.
Breadth.]
1. Wide; extend in breadth, or from side to side; -- opposed
to narrow; as, a broad street, a broad table; an inch
broad.
2. Extending far and wide; extensive; vast; as, the broad
expanse of ocean.
3. Extended, in the sense of diffused; open; clear; full.
``Broad and open day.'' --Bp. Porteus.
4. Fig.: Having a large measure of any thing or quality; not
limited; not restrained; -- applied to any subject, and
retaining the literal idea more or less clearly, the
precise meaning depending largely on the substantive.
A broad mixture of falsehood. --Locke.
Note: Hence:
5. Comprehensive; liberal; enlarged.
The words in the Constitution are broad enough to
include the case. --D. Daggett.
In a broad, statesmanlike, and masterly way. --E.
Everett.
6. Plain; evident; as, a broad hint.
7. Free; unrestrained; unconfined.
As broad and general as the casing air. --Shak.
8. (Fine Arts) Characterized by breadth. See Breadth.
9. Cross; coarse; indelicate; as, a broad compliment; a broad
joke; broad humor.
10. Strongly marked; as, a broad Scotch accent.
Note: Broad is often used in compounds to signify wide,
large, etc.; as, broad-chested, broad-shouldered,
broad-spreading, broad-winged.
Broad acres. See under Acre.
Broad arrow, originally a pheon. See Pheon, and Broad
arrow under Arrow.
As broad as long, having the length equal to the breadth;
hence, the same one way as another; coming to the same
result by different ways or processes.
It is as broad as long, whether they rise to others,
or bring others down to them. --L'Estrange.
Broad pennant. See under Pennant.
Syn: Wide; large; ample; expanded; spacious; roomy;
extensive; vast; comprehensive; liberal.
Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
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