BROOK
What does "BROOK" mean?
A small natural stream of fresh water; also, to tolerate or allow.
Meanings
- A small, shallow stream. A brook ran through the meadow, narrow enough to step across.
- To tolerate or put up with (usually in the negative, of something undesirable). The colonel would brook no argument from his officers. formal
Did you know?
- The brook you wade in and the brooking of no nonsense are total strangers: the stream comes from Old English 'broc', while 'to brook' an insult comes from 'brucan', meaning to digest or stomach something.
Word origin
The 'stream' sense is from Old English 'broc' (stream). The unrelated verb 'to tolerate' is from Old English 'brucan' (to use, enjoy), which originally meant 'to digest', narrowing to 'stomach' and then 'put up with'.
Remember it
BROOK = BR + OOK; the two O's are stepping stones you cross the little stream on.
A little poem
The brook will not stop-
it brooks no stone in its path,
just folds round and on.
haiku
Wordplay
- The river would not tolerate the tiny stream's complaints. It simply would not brook a brook.
What it teaches
Water that brooks no obstacle does not smash it - it learns the shape and goes around.
Quick facts
What does BROOK mean?
A small natural stream of fresh water; also, to tolerate or allow.
Is BROOK a valid word?
Yes — BROOK is one of the answer words in Wordul, the daily word game.
How many letters is BROOK?
BROOK has 5 letters and 1 syllable.
Where does BROOK come from?
The 'stream' sense is from Old English 'broc' (stream). The unrelated verb 'to tolerate' is from Old English 'brucan' (to use, enjoy), which originally meant 'to digest', narrowing to 'stomach' and then 'put up with'.
What can BROOK teach us?
Water that brooks no obstacle does not smash it - it learns the shape and goes around.
How players do
Be the first to solve it.