brother

broth-er · noun

imported

Definitions

noun

  1. 1.

    A male having the same parents as another person.

  2. 2.

    A male having one parent in common with another (half-brother).

  3. 3.

    A fellow member of a group, profession, or organization.

  4. 4.

    A male member of a religious order.

  5. 5.

    (informal) A form of address between men, especially friends.

Forms

plural: brothers

Phrases & expressions

  • •
    blood brother — a very close friend or ally
  • •
    brother in arms — a fellow soldier
  • •
    Big Brother — an all-powerful government surveillance system
  • •
    brothers in crime — accomplices or close friends in mischief
  • •
    band of brothers — a close group of comrades

Related words

Antonyms: sister
See also: family, relative, sibling, sister
Synonyms: bro, kinsman, sibling

Etymology

From Old English "broþor" meaning brother, from Proto-Germanic "brōþēr," from Proto-Indo-European "bʰréh₂tēr" meaning brother.