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(1951). In 1948 he started the ALDEBURGH Festival with his life-long companion, the singer Sir Peter PEARS.
brittle1 /'brɪtl/ adj 1 hard but easily broken: brittle glass 2 lacking warmth or depth of feeling: brittle humour | (fig.) a brittle friendship
brittle2 n [U] a mixture of nuts, butter, and sugar made into a hard sweet: peanut brittle
Brixton /'brɪkstən/ an area of south London which is known for having a large black population
bro /brəʊ/ n AmE, infml (short for) brother; used especially by black Americans
broach /brəʊtʃ/ v [T] 1 [(to)] to introduce as a subject of conversation; start to talk about (something difficult or likely to cause argument): At last he broached the subject of the new contract to them. 2 tech to open (a bottle or barrel)
broad1 /brɔːd/ adj 1 large, or larger than usual, when measured from side to side; wide: broad shoulders | a broad river | a broad smile ➔ compare NARROW 2 [after n] (after an expression of measurement) in width; across: four metres broad 3 stretching out far and wide; EXTENSIVE: broad plains | a sports centre catering for a broad range of activities | a broad-spectrum antibiotic (=one that has effect on a wide range of infections) | a policy that enjoys broad popular support (=is supported by most people) 4 not limited in thought, ideas etc: the broad sweep of the writer's imagination | Her taste in literature is very broad. ➔ see also BROADMINDED 5 [A] not particular or detailed; general: Just give me a broad outline of the plan. 6 [A] full and clear; plain; open: The burglars broke into the house in broad daylight. | a broad hint 7 (of a way of speaking) strongly marked; showing clearly where the speaker comes from: He spoke broad Scots. | a broad Texas accent 8 (e.g. of jokes) rather rude, especially about sexual matters; not acceptable in polite society: broad comedy/humour 9 broad in the beam infml having broad HIPS; rather fat; more often used of women 10 It's as broad as it's long especially BrE it does not matter which of two things or courses of action you choose, because neither is clearly better than the other: It's cheaper by bus, but the train is a lot quicker, so it's as broad as it's long. ➔ see WIDE (USAGE) 11 a broad church BrE used about an organization or group that includes people with very different opinions or beliefs: Romania's National Salvation Front is certainly a broad church, with supporters from the whole political spectrum. | My ambition is to create an exciting theatre, and I want it to be a broad church. —ly adv. Broadly (speaking), I agree with you. | Her job is broadly similar to mine. —ness n [U]
broad2 n AmE derog slang a woman
B-road /'biː rəʊd/ n in Britain, a less important country road (often shown in yellow on maps) with the letter B before its number
broadband /'brɔːdbænd/ n [U] 1 a system of connecting computers to the Internet and moving information, such as messages or pictures, at a very high speed. Broadband makes INTERACTIVE television services such as HOME SHOPPING (=buying things at home by using the Internet) much faster. 2 tech a system of sending radio signals which allows several messages to be sent at the same time —broadband adj: A broadband connection will give you much faster access to the Internet.
broad bean also fava bean AmE —n a large flat pale green bean
broad 'brush n [S] a way of talking about only the main features of something: He painted the situation with a broad brush. (=explained it only generally, not giving many details) —broadbrush /'brɔːdbrʌʃ/ adj: a broadbrush strategy for increasing sales
broadcast /'brɔːdkɑːst || -kæst/ n an act of sending sound and/or pictures by radio or television: a live broadcast of the football game | a television/radio news broadcast
broadcast v broadcast / -ed / 1 [I;T] to send out (radio or television PROGRAMMES): The BBC broadcasts to all parts of the world. | The concert is being broadcast live. 2 [T] to make widely known: He broadcast the news to all his friends. —er n —ing n [U]
Broadcasting Complaints Commission, the a
broke
group of people who deal with complaints about radio or television programmes in the UK
Broadcasting House the central office of the BBC
Broadcasting Standards Council, the in the UK, a group of people who watch television and radio programmes, and decide whether they contain too much sex or violence or are offensive or unsuitable in any way
broadcloth /'brɔːdklθ || -klɔːθ/ n [U] thick woollen cloth of very good quality
broaden /'brɔːdn/ v [I;T(OUT)] to make or become broader: The river broadens (out) at this point. | Travel broadens the mind. | His parents hoped the course would broaden his horizons. ➔ compare WIDEN
'broad gauge n a size of railway track of more than standard width
'broad jump n [the] AmE for LONG JUMP
broadloom /'brɔːdlum/ n [U] tech a CARPET that is woven in a wide piece, especially in one single colour
broad-minded /ˌbrɔːd'maɪndd/ adj apprec. willing to respect the opinions and behaviour of other people, even if very different from your own ➔ opposite NARROW-MINDED —ly adv —ness n [U]
Broadmoor /'brɔːdmə/ a special hospital in the UK for very dangerous criminals who are mentally ill
Broads, the /brɔːdz/ the Norfolk Broads ➔ see NORFOLK
broadsheet /'brɔːdʃiːt/ n something (such as a newspaper or advertisement) printed on a large sheet of paper
broadside /'brɔːdsaɪd/ n 1 a forceful spoken or written attack: She delivered a withering broadside against the committee's decision. 2 the firing of all the guns on one side of a ship at the same time
broadsided adv with the longest side facing something: I brought the boat in broadside to the beach.
broadsided v [T] esp AmE to crash into the side of another vehicle
broad-sword /'brɔːdsɔːd || -sɔːrd/ n old use or lit a heavy sword with a broad flat blade, especially one held and swung with both hands
Broadway /'brɔːdweɪ/ a famous street in New York City where there are many theatres. Broadway and the ares around it is the centre of the city's theatre industry: The new show will open on Broadway next month. | a Broadway musical ➔ see also OFF BROADWAY
brocade /brə'keɪd || broʊ-/ n [U] decorative cloth with a raised pattern of gold or silver threads
brocade v [T] to decorate (cloth) with a raised pattern: a brocaded waistcoat
broccoli /'brɒkəli || 'brɑː-/ n a vegetable whose young green or purple flower heads are eaten
brochure /'brəʊʃə, -ʃʊə || broʊ'ʃʊər/ n a book, often with pictures and of various sizes with a thin paper cover, especially one giving instructions or details of a service: a holiday brochure | an advertising brochure
brogue /brəʊg/ n [usually pl.] a strong thick shoe with a pattern made in the leather ➔ see PAIR (USAGE)
brogue n [C usually sing.] a way of speaking, especially the way in which the Irish speak English
broil /brɔɪl/ v 1 [T] AmE for GRILL ➔ see COOK (USAGE) 2 [I;T] to (cause to) be very hot or too hot: It's really broiling (hot) today! | I'm broiling in this hot sun!
broiler /'brɔɪlə/ n 1 a young small chicken bred to be cooked by broiling 2 infml a very hot day: Yesterday was a real broiler! 3 AmE for GRILL ➔ see COOK (USAGE)
Brokaw, Tom /'brɔːkɔː/ a US news presenter at NBC. He has presented the NBC Nightly News since 1981.
broke /brəʊk/ past tense of BREAK
broke adj [F] infml completely without money: I'm flat broke/stony/stone broke (BrE). | His firm has gone broke.