Synonyms for brood
- verb
- noun
Definitions
- v. 1
To keep an egg warm to make it hatch.
In some species of birds, both the mother and father brood the eggs.
- v. 2
To protect (something that is gradually maturing); to foster.
Under the rock was a midshipman fish, brooding a mass of eggs.
- v. 3
(typically with over, on or about) To dwell upon one's thoughts moodily and at length, mainly alone.
He sat brooding over the upcoming battle, fearing the outcome.
- n. 1
The young of certain animals, especially a group of young birds or fowl hatched at one time by the same mother.
Related words
- Word family
- brooder broody
- Phrases
- brood mare
Choose the right word
The individuals in a brood or litter are related to each other; those in the other groups may not be.
J. C. Fernald, English Synonyms and Antonyms (1914)
Example sentences
- hatch The hen sits on her eggs until the chicks hatch.
- incubate You will have to incubate the eggs artificially.
- hover "When you're ready, pick it up and hover over to the helipad."
- sulk Did I miss anything while I was off having a sulk?
By length
- 3 letters
- sit1
- 4 letters
- muse1, stew1, loom1, pout1, sulk1
- 5 letters
- think1, young1, issue2, cover2, breed1, hatch1, dwell1, hover2
- 6 letters
- litter2
- 7 letters
- species2, progeny3, grizzle2
- 8 letters
- meditate3, incubate3, ruminate3
- 9 letters
- offspring2
The small number after each word is its number of syllables (issue2 = 2 syllables).