brood
/bruːd/ IELTSAcademic
verb
To think for a long time about something that makes you upset or worried. It often suggests silent, unhappy thinking.
- She brooded about the argument all evening.
- Don't brood over small mistakes.
- He brooded in silence after the meeting.
noun
A group of young animals born at the same time, especially birds or fish.
- The hen kept her brood warm.
- A brood of chicks followed the mother.
- They watched the frog's brood in the pond.
Adinary Nuance
Brood is stronger and darker than think or worry. It suggests long, quiet, unhappy thoughts, often after disappointment or anger. For animals, it means a group of babies, especially birds, and it is not the same as flock or litter.
In other languages
- Vietnamese
- ủ rũ
- Spanish
- meditar
- Chinese
- 沉思
- Japanese
- ふさぎ込む
- Korean
- 침울해하다
Etymology
Brood comes from Old English brod, meaning 'offspring' or 'young birds'. The verb sense developed later from the idea of sitting over eggs in a worried, still way.
Common phrases
brood over somethinga brood of chicksbrood in silencebrood about the future
Synonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
- Is brood a formal word?
- It is neutral to slightly formal in writing. In speech, people often say "worry" or "think about" instead.
- What is the difference between brood and worry?
- "Worry" is the general word. "Brood" means you keep thinking about something upsetting for too long.
- Can brood be used for animals?
- Yes. It means a group of young animals, especially birds.
- Is brood common in IELTS writing?
- Yes, especially the verb. It can make your writing sound more precise and literary.