brew

[ broo ]

verb (used with object)

1. to make (beer, ale, etc.) by steeping, boiling, and fermenting malt and hops.
2. to make or prepare (a beverage, as tea) by mixing, steeping, soaking, or boiling a solid in water.
3. to concoct, mix, or cook (a beverage or food, especially one containing unmeasured or unusual ingredients):

   She brewed a pot of soup from the leftovers.

4. to contrive, plan, or bring about:

   to brew mischief.

   Synonyms: hatch, devise, plot, scheme, concoct, cook up

verb (used without object)

1. to make a fermented alcoholic malt beverage, as beer or ale.
2. to boil, steep, soak, or cook:

   Wait until the tea brews.

noun

1. a quantity brewed in a single process.
2. a particular brewing or variety of malt liquor.
3. a hot beverage made by cooking a solid in water, especially tea or coffee.
4. any concoction, especially a liquid produced by a mixture of unusual ingredients:

   a witches' brew.

5. Informal.
   1. beer or ale.
   2. an individual serving of beer or ale:

      Let's have a few brews after the game.

brew

¹

/ bruː /

noun

1. dialect.
   a hill

brew

²

/ bruː /

verb

1. to make (beer, ale, etc) from malt and other ingredients by steeping, boiling, and fermentation
2. to prepare (a drink, such as tea) by boiling or infusing
3. tr to devise or plan

   to brew a plot

4. intr to be in the process of being brewed

   the tea was brewing in the pot

5. intr to be impending or forming

   there's a storm brewing

noun

1. a beverage produced by brewing, esp tea or beer

   a strong brew

2. an instance or time of brewing

   last year's brew

3. a mixture

   an eclectic brew of mysticism and political discontent

Derived Forms

• ˈbrewer, noun

Other Words From

• brewer noun
• mis·brew verb (used with object)
• re·brew verb
• un·brewed adjective
• under·brew verb (used with object)
• well-brewed adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of brew¹

before 900; Middle English brewen, Old English brēowan; akin to Dutch brouwen, German brauen, Old Norse brugga

Word History and Origins

Origin of brew¹

Old English brēowan ; related to Old Norse brugga , Old Saxon breuwan , Old High German briuwan

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. be brewing, to be forming or gathering; be in preparation:

   Trouble was brewing.

Example Sentences

People swallow or gargle the brews to combat routine bacterial infections.

From Salon

A nomination is almost assured, but there’s already a backlash brewing against the film, with critics complaining that it’s a “regressive picture masquerading as progressive” and a “wild ride to nowhere.”

From Los Angeles Times

Kombucha — the beloved moldy, fermented drink that hit astronomical popularity in recent years but was first brewed millennia ago — is one such success story.

From Salon

You don’t need to look far to see trouble brewing.

From BBC

What could be better than sharing the gift of morning brew with a friend?

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• beverage
• blend
• broth
• distillation
• drink
• liquor
• melange
• mélange
• mishmash
• mixture