breadth
Americannoun
-
the measure of the second largest dimension of a plane or solid figure; width.
-
an extent or piece of something of definite or full width or as measured by its width.
a breadth of cloth.
-
freedom from narrowness or restraint; liberality.
a person with great breadth of view.
- Synonyms:
- open-mindedness, impartiality, latitude
-
size in general; extent.
-
Art. a broad or general effect due to subordination of details or nonessentials.
noun
-
the linear extent or measurement of something from side to side; width
-
a piece of fabric having a standard or definite width
-
distance, extent, size, or dimension
-
openness and lack of restriction, esp of viewpoint or interest; liberality
Other Word Forms
- breadthless adjective
Etymology
Origin of breadth
1515–25; earlier bredeth, equivalent to brede breadth ( Middle English; Old English brǣdu, equivalent to brǣd-, mutated variant of brād broad + -u noun suffix) + -th 1 ( def. ) akin to German Breite, Gothic braidei
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
A ruling at the Supreme Court in August limited the breadth of these cases, which otherwise could have extended to tens of billions of pounds.
From BBC
The breadth of his work explains the high regard in which he is held by his peers, and perhaps why he still feels he has something to offer.
From BBC
Some of that breadth is seen at the beginning in some astonishing newsreel footage from the era, which segues into Jacir’s establishing story threads.
From Los Angeles Times
Market breadth improved significantly on March 25, and if breadth is positive again on March 26, that will generate confirmed buy signals from both breadth oscillators.
From MarketWatch
Some models can spool this wire as far as 30 miles, which is about the breadth of the Strait of Hormuz at its narrowest point.
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
