资料来源 : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Broad \Broad\, a. [Compar. {Broader}; superl. {Broadest}.] [OE.
   brod, brad, AS. br[=a]d; akin to OS. br[=e]d, D. breed, G.
   breit, Icel. brei?r, Sw. & Dan. bred, Goth. braids. Cf.
   {Breadth}.]
   1. Wide; extend in breadth, or from side to side; -- opposed
      to {narrow}; as, a broad street, a broad table; an inch
      broad.

   2. Extending far and wide; extensive; vast; as, the broad
      expanse of ocean.

   3. Extended, in the sense of diffused; open; clear; full.
      ``Broad and open day.'' --Bp. Porteus.

   4. Fig.: Having a large measure of any thing or quality; not
      limited; not restrained; -- applied to any subject, and
      retaining the literal idea more or less clearly, the
      precise meaning depending largely on the substantive.

            A broad mixture of falsehood.         --Locke.

   Note: Hence: 

   5. Comprehensive; liberal; enlarged.

            The words in the Constitution are broad enough to
            include the case.                     --D. Daggett.

            In a broad, statesmanlike, and masterly way. --E.
                                                  Everett.

   6. Plain; evident; as, a broad hint.

   7. Free; unrestrained; unconfined.

            As broad and general as the casing air. --Shak.

   8. (Fine Arts) Characterized by breadth. See {Breadth}.

   9. Cross; coarse; indelicate; as, a broad compliment; a broad
      joke; broad humor.

   10. Strongly marked; as, a broad Scotch accent.

   Note: Broad is often used in compounds to signify wide,
         large, etc.; as, broad-chested, broad-shouldered,
         broad-spreading, broad-winged.

   {Broad acres}. See under {Acre}.

   {Broad arrow}, originally a pheon. See {Pheon}, and {Broad
      arrow} under {Arrow}.

   {As broad as long}, having the length equal to the breadth;
      hence, the same one way as another; coming to the same
      result by different ways or processes.

            It is as broad as long, whether they rise to others,
            or bring others down to them.         --L'Estrange.

   {Broad pennant}. See under {Pennant}.

   Syn: Wide; large; ample; expanded; spacious; roomy;
        extensive; vast; comprehensive; liberal.