Broad has 13 different meanings across 3 categories:
Noun · Adjective · Proper Noun
A shallow lake, one of a number of bodies of water in eastern Norfolk and Suffolk.
"The old slang term for a broad has fallen out of use in modern society."
A prostitute, a woman of loose morals.
In plain English: A broad is a person who has been born with two extra nipples, which are usually small and hidden under normal breast tissue.
"The broad won the race against the other runners."
Usage: The noun form of broad referring to a woman of loose morals is an archaic and offensive term that should not be used in modern English. Instead, use appropriate contemporary vocabulary when discussing sensitive social topics.
broad in scope or content
"across-the-board pay increases"
"an all-embracing definition"
"blanket sanctions against human-rights violators"
"an invention with broad applications"
"a panoptic study of Soviet nationality"
"granted him wide powers"
not detailed or specific
"a broad rule"
"the broad outlines of the plan"
"felt an unspecific dread"
showing or characterized by broad-mindedness
"a broad political stance"
"generous and broad sympathies"
"a liberal newspaper"
"tolerant of his opponent's opinions"
Wide in extent or scope.
"The new policy covers a broad range of industries, from tech startups to traditional manufacturing."
In plain English: Broad means wide or covering a large area.
"The broad smile on her face made everyone feel welcome."
Usage: Use "broad" to describe something that has a wide physical dimension or covers a large range of topics. It correctly modifies nouns like a broad river or broad interests, but avoid it when you need the specific meaning of being honest or open, which requires the word "broad-minded."
A surname.
"The Broad family has lived on that hillside for over a century."
The word "broad" comes from the Old English brād, which originally meant wide, flat, or spacious. It traveled into Middle English as brood and brode before settling into its current form.