Brood means to sit on eggs to keep them warm until they hatch, or to care for young animals, especially birds. It can also mean a group of young birds born at the same time.
In daily life, people most often use brood when talking about birds, chickens, or other animals that raise their young together. It can also be used in a more general way to describe a set of babies or young animals from the same mother.
Meaning & Usage
As a verb, brood means to keep eggs warm or protect young animals. As a noun, it means the young animals themselves, especially a group from one birth or one hatching.
Examples
The hen brooded over her eggs for weeks.
A brood of ducklings followed their mother across the pond.
The bird stayed close to protect its brood.
Context / Common Use
People usually hear this word in nature stories, farming, or when talking about birds and animals. It is not used very often in everyday conversation unless someone is describing animals or their young.
Is “brood” a noun or a verb?
It can be both. As a noun, it means a group of young animals. As a verb, it means to sit on eggs or care for them.
Do people use “brood” for humans?
Usually no. It is mainly used for animals, especially birds.
What is a simple example of “brood”?
You can say, “The mother bird watched over her brood.”
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