broad
UK[brɔːd]US[brɑːd]
adj
Having a large distance from one side to the other; wide.
adj
Covering a large number and wide scope of subjects or areas.
adj
General, without detail; not limited or narrow.
adj
(of an accent) Strongly noticeable; not refined.
Etymology
The word 'broad' originates from the Old English 'brād', which itself derives from the Proto-Germanic 'braidaz'. This Germanic root is further traced back to the Proto-Indo-European (PIE) root 'bʰreh₁-', meaning 'to cut, hew, split, divide'. The semantic connection is thought to lie in the concept of something spread out or extended, which can be metaphorically linked to the result of splitting or flattening. Over time, the meaning shifted from the action to the resulting state of being wide or expansive. The modern English word retains this core sense of wide extent, both in physical space and in abstract application, such as broad knowledge or a broad accent.
Analysis
The word 'broad' is a simplex word of Germanic origin. It is not productively formed from smaller, independent morphemes in modern English.
Examples
The river was too broad to swim across safely.
She has a broad understanding of European history.
He spoke in a broad Scottish accent that was difficult for some visitors to understand.