broom
- 01 A2 Elementary
n.a brush with a long handle that you use to clean the floor.
n.a domestic cleaning implement consisting of stiff fibers or bristles attached to a long handle, used for sweeping.
Simple“He grabbed a broom to sweep up the broken glass from the kitchen floor.”
In context“The janitor used a heavy-duty industrial broom to clear the debris from the warehouse floor before the morning shift began.”
- 02 C1 Advanced
n.a type of wild bush with thin branches and bright yellow flowers.
n.any of several shrubs in the family Fabaceae, characterized by long, slender branches and typically yellow flowers.
Simple“The hillside was covered in bright yellow broom during the spring.”
In context“The common broom, Cytisus scoparius, is often found in sandy soils and is known for its prolific yellow blooms in late spring.”
Synonymsshrubgenista - 03 B2 Upper Intermediate
n.a special brush used in the sport of curling to sweep the ice.
n.an implement used by players in the sport of curling to sweep the ice in front of a moving stone.
Simple“The curling team used their brooms to help the stone reach the target.”
In context“Effective sweeping with the broom can momentarily melt the ice surface, reducing friction and allowing the curling stone to travel further.”
- 04 B1 Intermediate
v.to clean a surface using a broom.
v.to sweep or clean a surface using a broom or similar implement.
Simple“She decided to broom the porch while the weather was still nice.”
In context“The workers were instructed to broom the concrete surface to ensure it was free of dust before applying the sealant.”
- 05 C2 Proficiency
v.to suddenly remove someone from your life or job.
v.to dismiss or remove someone abruptly, such as firing an employee or ending a relationship.
Simple“After the scandal, the company decided to broom the entire management team.”
In context“The new CEO intended to broom any staff members who were not fully aligned with the revised corporate strategy.”
Inherited from Middle English brom, from Old English brōm (“brushwood”), from Proto-West Germanic brām (“bramble”) (compare Saterland Frisian Brom, West Frisian brem, Dutch braam, German Low German Braam), from Proto-Indo-European bʰrem-, from *bʰer- ‘edge’. Related to brim, brink. Replaced English besom (from Old English besma (“broom, rod”)), which is now restricted in meaning to a particular kind of broom. (shotgun): So called because it is (like the cleaning utensil) long and held similarly to a besom and “cleans” what is in front.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.