broader; broadest
1
a
: having ample extent from side to side or between limits
broad shoulders
… one of the broadest estuaries of any river in America.—William Styron
b
: having a specified extension from side to side
made the path 10 feet broad
2
: extending far and wide : spacious
the broad plains
3
: relating to the main or essential points
broad outlines
5
linguistics
: dialectal especially in pronunciation
a broad northern accent
6
b
: widely applicable or applied : general
a broad rule
the broader sense of the word
c
: wide in range or amount
This store has a broader selection of items.
a politician with broad [=widespread] appeal
There is broad agreement [=many people agree] that these changes are needed.
7
of a vowel
: open
—used specifically of a pronounced as in father
broadly
adverb
He smiled broadly.
broadness
noun
the broadness of the law's scope
: in a broad (see broad entry 1 sense 4a) manner : fully
broad awake
1
slang, often offensive
: woman
2
British
: an expansion of a river
—often used in plural
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Merriam-Webster unabridged
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