Definition of 'brother'
Word forms: plural brothers
language note: The old-fashioned form brethren is still sometimes used as the plural for meanings [sense 3] and [sense 4].
2. See also half-brother, stepbrother
3. countable noun [usually poss NOUN]
4. title noun & countable noun
5. countable noun
Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers
British English pronunciation
American English pronunciation
You may also like
Word Frequency
brother in British English
nounWord forms: plural brothers or archaic except when referring to fellow members of a religion, sect, society, etc brethren
2. short for half-brother, stepbrother
3.
a.
a male person belonging to the same group, profession, nationality, trade union, etc, as another or others; fellow member
b.
(as modifier)
brother workers
5. Christianity
a.
a member of a male religious order who undertakes work for the order without actually being in holy orders
b.
▶ Related adjective: fraternala lay member of a male religious order
exclamation
Collins English Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers
Word origin
Old English brōthor; related to Old Norse brōthir, Old High German bruoder, Latin frāter, Greek phratēr, Sanskrit bhrātarWord Frequency
brother in American English
nounWord forms: plural ˈbrothers or ˈbrethren
1.
a man or boy as he is related to the other children of his parents
sometimes also used of animals3.
a stepbrother
4.
a foster brother
6.
a fellow human being
7.
a male fellow member of the same race, church, profession, organization, etc.
fraternity brother, soul brother
8. [often B-]
a lay member of a men's religious order
9. Informal
any man
often used as a familiar term of addressWebster’s New World College Dictionary, 4th Edition. Copyright © 2010 by
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. All rights reserved.
Word origin
ME < OE brothor < IE base *bhrāter > Goth brothar, L frater, OIr brāthir, Sans bhrātar, Gr phratērWord Frequency
brother in American English
(ˈbrʌðər, or, for 9 ˈbrʌðˈɜːr) (noun plural brothers, archaic brethren)
noun
SYNONYMS 1. brothers, brethren are plurals of brother. brothers are kinsmen, sons of the same parents: My mother lives with my brothers. brethren, now archaic in the foregoing sense, is used of male members of a congregation or
of a fraternal organization: The brethren will meet at the church. 2. Also called: half brother
a male offspring having only one parent in common with another offspring
3.
a stepbrother
4.
a male numbered among the same kinship group, nationality, race, profession, etc., as another; an associate; a fellow member, fellow countryman, fellow man, etc.
a fraternity brother
5. Ecclesiast
a. (often cap)
a male numbered among the lay members of a religious organization that has a priesthood
6. See brothers
Most material © 2005, 1997, 1991 by Penguin Random House LLC. Modified entries © 2019
by Penguin Random House LLC and HarperCollins Publishers Ltd
Derived forms
brotherless adjective
brotherlike
adjective
Word origin
[bef. 1000; ME; OE brōthor; c. D broeder, G Bruder, ON brōthir, Goth brothar, Skt bhrātṛ, Gk phrā́tēr, L frāter, OIr bráthair, OCS bratrŭ]Examples of 'brother' in a sentence
brother
These examples have been automatically selected and may contain sensitive content that does not reflect the opinions or policies of Collins, or its parent company HarperCollins.
We welcome feedback: report an example sentence to the Collins team. Read more…
Trends of
brother
View usage for:
Source: Google Books Ngram Viewer
In other languages
brother
British English: brother
/ˈbrʌðə/ NOUN
Your brother is a boy or a man who has the same parents as you.
...my younger brother.
- American English: brother /ˈbrʌðər/
- Arabic: أَخ
- Brazilian Portuguese: irmão
- Chinese: 兄弟 older brother
- Croatian: brat
- Czech: bratr
- Danish: bror
- Dutch: broer
- European Spanish: hermano
- Finnish: veli
- French: frère
- German: Bruder
- Greek: αδερφός
- Italian: fratello
- Japanese: 兄弟
- Korean: 오빠 female’s elder brother
- Norwegian: bror
- Polish: brat
- European Portuguese: irmão
- Romanian: frate
- Russian: брат
- Latin American Spanish: hermano
- Swedish: bror
- Thai: พี่ชายหรือน้องชาย
- Turkish: erkek kardeş
- Ukrainian: брат
- Vietnamese: em trai younger brother
Browse alphabetically
brother
Related terms of
brother
Source
Definition of brother from the Collins English Dictionary
Read about the team of authors behind Collins Dictionaries.
Quick word challenge
Quiz Review
Question: 1
-
Score: 0 / 5
TRANSPORT
Drag the correct answer into the box.
helicopter
moped
motorbike
car
TRANSPORT
Drag the correct answer into the box.
yacht
van
car
unicycle
TRANSPORT
Drag the correct answer into the box.
car
caravan
seaplane
moped
TRANSPORT
Drag the correct answer into the box.
aeroplane
mountain bike
caravan
tricycle
Your score:
Word of the day
green fingers
considerable talent or ability to grow plants
Latest Word Submissions
Collins English Dictionary Apps
Download our English Dictionary apps - available for both iOS and Android.
Read more
Collins Dictionaries for Schools
Our new online dictionaries for schools provide a safe and appropriate environment for children. And best of all it's ad free, so sign up now and start using at home or in the classroom.
Read more
Word lists
We have almost 200 lists of words from topics as varied as types of butterflies, jackets, currencies, vegetables and knots!
Amaze your friends with your new-found knowledge!
Read more
Quick word challenge
Quiz Review
Question: 1
-
Score: 0 / 5
INVERTEBRATES
Drag the correct answer into the box.
cockroach
fly
centipede
ant
INVERTEBRATES
Drag the correct answer into the box.
woodlouse
slug
mayfly
moth
INVERTEBRATES
Drag the correct answer into the box.
dragonfly
fly
caterpillar
grasshopper
INVERTEBRATES
Drag the correct answer into the box.
butterfly
centipede
slug
cockroach
Your score:
Sting-Nettle Day
We're taking a closer look at the intriguing expressions and customs that have grown up around one of the most versatile plants out there - the stinging nettle.
Read more
Learning English: Saying goodbye
Learn informal ways to say goodbye in British English - from 'Goodbye' to 'See ya!' with examples and tips for everyday use.
Read more
Scrabble: Spoilt for Choice
Strategize your Scrabble moves based on anagrams on the board, score, vowel placement, and hooks to get the best score you can.
Read more
‘100 Words for Rain’ by Alex Johnson
Discover the allure of weather lore and literary references in "100 Words for Rain" and delve into rain phenomena and cultural anecdotes.
Read more
Collins English Dictionary Apps
Download our English Dictionary apps - available for both iOS and Android.
Read more
Collins Dictionaries for Schools
Our new online dictionaries for schools provide a safe and appropriate environment for children. And best of all it's ad free, so sign up now and start using at home or in the classroom.
Read more
Word lists
We have almost 200 lists of words from topics as varied as types of butterflies, jackets, currencies, vegetables and knots!
Amaze your friends with your new-found knowledge!
Read more