Brother
a male offspring having both parents in common with another offspring; a male sibling.
Also called half brother. a male offspring having only one parent in common with another offspring.
a stepbrother.
a male numbered among the same kinship group, nationality, ethnicity, profession, etc., as another; an associate; a fellow member, fellow countryman, fellow man, etc.:
a fraternity brother.
Ecclesiastical.
(often initial capital letter) a male numbered among the lay members of a religious organization that has a priesthood.
a man who devotes himself to the duties of a religious order without taking holy orders, or while preparing for holy orders.
brothers, all members of a particular racial or ethnic group, or of the human race in general:
All men are brothers.
Slang. fellow; buddy:
Brother, can you spare a dime?
Informal. a term used to refer to or address a fellow black man; soul brother.
Slang. (used to express disappointment, disgust, or surprise).
fellow members.
Archaic. brothers.
Contemporary Examples
Ukraine Separatists’ Pro-Putin Raps Oleg Shynkarenko June 22, 2014
Meet Prince Salman, the Next Saudi King Bruce Riedel June 15, 2012
Homestar Runner, Trogdor the Burninator, and the Birth of the Internet Rich Goldstein April 21, 2014
More on the (Not Actually Debunked) Bully Story Michael Tomasky May 10, 2012
Jenni Rivera, Mexico’s Queen of Banda, Dies in Plane Crash Nina Strochlic December 9, 2012
Historical Examples
Classic Myths Mary Catherine Judd
The Spenders Harry Leon Wilson
A Son of Hagar Sir Hall Caine
The Spenders Harry Leon Wilson
Nell, of Shorne Mills Charles Garvice
noun (pl) brothers, (archaic except when referring to fellow members of a religion, sect, society, etc) brethren
a male person having the same parents as another person
short for half-brother, stepbrother
a male person belonging to the same group, profession, nationality, trade union, etc, as another or others; fellow member
(as modifier): brother workers
comrade; friend: used as a form of address
(Christianity)
a member of a male religious order who undertakes work for the order without actually being in holy orders
a lay member of a male religious order
related adjective fraternal
interjection
(slang) an exclamation of amazement, disgust, surprise, disappointment, etc
plural noun
(archaic) a plural of brother
fellow members of a religion, sect, society, etc
n.
n.
A man; fellow; guy •Used in addressing strangers: I don’t know you, brother, but you said a mouthful (1910+)
A black person; blood •Common and significant fr 1960s: All you brothers here, and you white people too, got to take care of business (1920+ Black)
A fellow professional; colleague: I’d like to ask Brother Donaldson something, if I may (mid1300s+)
Read Also:
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a member of a congregation of brothers, founded in France in 1684 for the education of the poor. Also, Irish Christian Brother. a member of a congregation of teaching brothers, founded in Ireland in 1802.
- Brotherhood
the condition or quality of being a brother or brothers. the quality of being brotherly; fellowship. a fraternal or trade organization. all those engaged in a particular trade or profession or sharing a common interest or quality. the belief that all people should act with warmth and equality toward one another, regardless of differences in […]
- Brother-in-law
the brother of one’s husband or wife. the husband of one’s sister. the husband of one’s wife’s or husband’s sister. Contemporary Examples Wake Up and Smell Reality, Republicans Justin Green February 13, 2013 Casey Affleck, Star of ‘Out of the Furnace,’ on His Hollywood Struggles Marlow Stern December 1, 2013 The World’s Bravest Singers Ron […]
- Brother-jonathan
a male native or resident of the United States. n.
- Brother-s-keeper--am-i-my
brother’s keeper, am i my Note: Cain’s words have come to symbolize people’s unwillingness to accept responsibility for the welfare of their fellows — their “brothers” in the extended sense of the term. The tradition of Judaism and Christianity is that people do have this responsibility. (See Good Samaritan, Love thy neighbor as thyself, and […]