broil

¹

[ broil ]

verb (used with object)

1. to cook by direct heat, as on a gridiron over the heat or in an oven under the heat; grill:

   to broil a steak.

2. to scorch; make very hot.

verb (used without object)

1. to be subjected to great heat; become broiled.
2. to burn with impatience, annoyance, etc.

noun

1. the act or state of broiling; state of being broiled.
2. something broiled, especially meat:

   She ordered a beef broil and salad.

broil

²

[ broil ]

noun

1. an angry quarrel or struggle; disturbance; tumult:

   a violent broil over who was at fault.

verb (used without object)

1. to quarrel; brawl.

broil

¹

/ brɔɪl /

verb

1. to cook (meat, fish, etc) by direct heat, as under a grill or over a hot fire, or (of meat, fish, etc) to be cooked in this way Usual equivalent (in Britain and other countries)grill
2. to become or cause to become extremely hot
3. intr to be furious

noun

1. the process of broiling
2. something broiled

broil

²

/ brɔɪl /

noun

1. a loud quarrel or disturbance; brawl

verb

1. intr to brawl; quarrel

Other Words From

• broiling·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of broil¹

1300–50; Middle English brulen, brolyn, broillen < Anglo-French bruill ( i ) er, broil ( l ) er, Old French brusler, brul ( l ) er to burn ( French brûler ), a conflation of the verbs represented by Old French bruir to burn (< Frankish *brōjan; compare Middle High German brü ( ej ) en, German brühen to scald) and usler < Latin ustulāre to scorch

Origin of broil²

1400–50; late Middle English broylen to present in disorder, quarrel < Anglo-French, Old French broiller to jumble together < Gallo-Romance *brodiculāre, equivalent to *brod- (< Germanic; broth, brewis ) + Late Latin -iculāre v. suffix

Word History and Origins

Origin of broil¹

C14: from Old French bruillir to burn, of uncertain origin

Origin of broil²

C16: from Old French brouiller to mix, from breu broth; see brewis , brose

Example Sentences

As a second July heat wave is expected to broil the state, officials warn that the dangerous and dire consequences of extreme heat events are expected to only worsen — in length and severity — in a warming climate.

From Los Angeles Times

An early-season heat wave will broil much of inland California this week, with highs set to top 100 from the Antelope Valley to the Sacramento Valley.

From Los Angeles Times

An early-season heat wave will broil much of inland California this week, with highs set to top 100 from the Antelope Valley to the Sacramento Valley.

From Los Angeles Times

A significant, early-season heat wave is expected to broil much of inland California this week, with highs set to top 100 from the Sacramento Valley to the Antelope Valley — dangerously high temperatures that experts warn could bring health risks given that nighttime cooling will be limited in many areas.

From Los Angeles Times

Broil until the cheese browns, 2 to 3 minutes.

From Seattle Times

Related Words

• roast
• sear