Broad a. [Compar. Broader superl. Broadest.]
1. Wide; extend in breadth, or from side to side; -- opposed to narrow; as, a broad street, a broad table; an inch broad.
2. Extending far and wide; extensive; vast; as, the broad expanse of ocean.
3. Extended, in the sense of diffused; open; clear; full. “Broad and open day.”
4. Fig.: Having a large measure of any thing or quality; not limited; not restrained; -- applied to any subject, and retaining the literal idea more or less clearly, the precise meaning depending largely on the substantive.
A broad mixture of falsehood. --Locke.
Note: Hence: -
5. Comprehensive; liberal; enlarged.
The words in the Constitution are broad enough to include the case. --D. Daggett.
In a broad, statesmanlike, and masterly way. --E. Everett.
6. Plain; evident; as, a broad hint.
7. Free; unrestrained; unconfined.
As broad and general as the casing air. --Shak.
8. Fine Arts Characterized by breadth. See Breadth.
9. Cross; coarse; indelicate; as, a broad compliment; a broad joke; broad humor.
10. Strongly marked; as, a broad Scotch accent.
Note: ☞ Broad is often used in compounds to signify wide, large, etc.; as, broad-chested, broad-shouldered, broad-spreading, broad-winged.
Broad acres. See under Acre.
Broad arrow, originally a pheon. See Pheon, and Broad arrow under Arrow.
As broad as long, having the length equal to the breadth; hence, the same one way as another; coming to the same result by different ways or processes.
It is as broad as long, whether they rise to others, or bring others down to them. --L'Estrange.
Broad pennant. See under Pennant.
Syn: -- Wide; large; ample; expanded; spacious; roomy; extensive; vast; comprehensive; liberal.