brook

¹

[brook]

noun

1. a small, natural stream of fresh water.

brook

²

[brook]

verb (used with object)

1. to bear; suffer; tolerate.

   I will brook no interference.

   Synonyms: stomach, abide, endure, stand, take

Brook

¹

/ brʊk /

noun

1. Peter ( Paul Stephen ). born 1925, British stage and film director, noted esp for his experimental work in the theatre

brook

²

/ brʊk /

noun

1. a natural freshwater stream smaller than a river

brook

³

/ brʊk /

verb

1. (tr; usually used with a negative) to bear; tolerate

Other Word Forms

• brookable adjective
• brookless adjective
• brooklike adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of Brook¹

before 900; Middle English; Old English brōc stream; cognate with Dutch broek, German Bruch marsh

Origin of Brook²

before 900; Middle English brouken, Old English brūcan; cognate with Dutch bruiken, German brauchen; akin to Gothic brukjan, Latin fruī to enjoy

Word History and Origins

Origin of Brook¹

Old English brōc ; related to Old High German bruoh swamp, Dutch broek

Origin of Brook²

Old English brūcan ; related to Gothic brūkjan to use, Old High German brūhhan , Latin fruī to enjoy

Example Sentences

People kept stopping to talk to him, although they mostly made small murmuring noises, like the fake brook that runs through a suburban shopping center.

From Salon

Mr Lister told Radio Wales Breakfast he often visited the brook as it is a good spot for photographing wildlife in the area.

From BBC

Her partner, Art Linfoot, built the house they lost, a cabin with a wraparound porch and a year-round brook where deer drank and the sound of the water lulled the couple to sleep.

From Los Angeles Times

In November a wall collapsed in Tenbury Wells in Worcestershire after water in a local brook rose, flooding the town centre.

From BBC

“It’s like a movie set,” Bifano said, gesturing to the elegant barn, brook, bridges and all the plants that tie them together.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• countenance 
• tolerate