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brood

 
 
pronunciation:
brud
parts of speech:
noun, transitive verb, intransitive verb, adjective
features:
Word Combinations (noun, verb), Word Explorer
part of speech: noun
definition 1: a group of young birds or other animals hatched or born at the same time to one mother.
The hen sheltered her brood under her wings.
 
synonyms:
clutch, litter, spawn, young
similar words:
hatch, offspring
definition 2: (informal) the children belonging to one family.
The mother fussed over her brood, making sure they all buttoned up their coats.
similar words:
children, kids, offspring, spawn, youngsters
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part of speech: transitive verb
inflections: broods, brooding, brooded
definition 1: to sit on (eggs) and cause to hatch.
similar words:
clutch, hatch, incubate
definition 2: to protect (young birds) by covering with the body or wings.
similar words:
protect
 
part of speech: intransitive verb
definition 1: to sit on eggs in order to hatch them.
similar words:
set, sit
definition 2: to ponder or deliberate, often moodily, a single subject (usu. fol. by "on" or "over").
She brooded over the problem all night.He brooded on these new questions for several weeks.
synonyms:
mope
similar words:
chew the cud, contemplate, dwell on, meditate, ponder, reflect, ruminate, worry
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part of speech: adjective
definition: kept for the purpose of breeding.
The brood hen sat on her clutch of eggs.a broodmare
derivation: broodless (adj.)
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  animal, bird, emotion, reproduction