brute
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
n.a person who is very cruel, violent, or lacks feelings for others.
n.a person who is insensitive, cruel, or behaves in a coarse and brutal manner.
Simple“The dictator was a brute who treated his own people with terrible cruelty.”
In context“The antagonist is portrayed as a mindless brute, capable only of destruction and devoid of any redeeming moral qualities.”
Antonyms - 02 C1 Advanced
n.an animal, especially a large or wild one that does not have human reason.
n.a non-human animal, particularly one regarded as lacking reason or higher intelligence.
Simple“The poor brute was left out in the cold rain all night.”
In context“In the fable, the lion is described as a noble brute, powerful yet bound by the laws of the wilderness.”
- 03 C2 Proficiency
n.a very large and powerful light used on film sets.
n.a high-intensity carbon arc lamp or similar powerful spotlight used in motion picture production.
Simple“The crew set up a brute to mimic the harsh sunlight coming through the window.”
In context“The director of photography requested an additional brute to illuminate the large outdoor arena for the night shoot.”
Synonymsspotlightarc lamp - 04 B2 Upper Intermediate
adj.describing physical strength or facts that are used without thinking or planning.
adj.relating to physical force or basic facts applied without the use of reason or intellect.
Simple“They used brute force to break down the heavy wooden door.”
In context“The problem was eventually solved through brute force computation rather than an elegant mathematical proof.”
UsageCommonly used in the fixed expression 'brute force'.
Antonyms - 05 C2 Proficiency
v.to shape a diamond by rubbing it against another diamond.
v.to shape a diamond by the process of grinding it against another diamond.
Simple“The cutter had to brute the stone carefully to achieve the desired round shape.”
In context“Before the final polishing stage, the technician must brute the rough diamond to establish its basic proportions.”
From Middle French brut, from Old French brut, from Latin brūtus (“dull, stupid, insensible”), an Oscan loanword, from Proto-Indo-European *gʷréh₂us (“heavy”). Cognate with Ancient Greek βαρύς (barús), Persian گران (gerân) and Sanskrit गुरु (gurú) (English guru).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.