# brook

/ˈbɹʊk/ (US) · /bɹˈʊk/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/brook
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. a small stream

noun · CEFR B2

a small, natural stream of water.

For teachers: a small, natural stream of fresh water, typically smaller than a river.

- The children spent the afternoon splashing in the shallow brook behind the house.
- A narrow brook meandered through the valley, its clear water bubbling over smooth stones and fallen branches.

### 2. to tolerate

verb · CEFR C1 · Formal

to allow or tolerate something, especially something you do not like.

For teachers: to tolerate, allow, or endure; almost exclusively used in negative contexts or with words like 'no'.

- The strict teacher would brook no talking during the final exam.
- The CEO made it clear that he would brook no dissent regarding the merger, expecting total loyalty from his executive team.

Usage: This verb is transitive and almost always appears in the negative, such as 'will brook no...'.

Teaching tip: This is a high-level literary or formal word. Students should recognize it in phrases like 'he would brook no interference' rather than trying to use it in casual speech.

## Examples

- A cold brook flows through the forest behind our house.
- The children spent the afternoon building small stone dams across the shallow brook in the meadow.
- Melting snow from the high peaks feeds the mountain brook, causing it to swell and rush over the mossy rocks during the early spring months.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.