breadth

[ bredth, bretth, breth ]
/ brɛdθ, brɛtθ, brɛθ /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR breadth ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

the measure of the second largest dimension of a plane or solid figure; width.
an extent or piece of something of definite or full width or as measured by its width: a breadth of cloth.
freedom from narrowness or restraint; liberality: a person with great breadth of view.
size in general; extent.
Art. a broad or general effect due to subordination of details or nonessentials.

Origin of breadth

1515–25; earlier bredeth, equivalent to brede breadth (Middle English; Old English brǣdu, equivalent to brǣd-, mutated variant of brād broad + -u noun suffix) + -th1 akin to German Breite, Gothic braidei

OTHER WORDS FROM breadth

breadth·less, adjective

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH breadth

breadth breath breathe

Words nearby breadth

breadnut, breadroot, breadstick, breadsticks, breadstuff, breadth, breadthways, breadwinner, break, break a leg, break and entry

Words related to breadth

scale, range, magnitude, fullness, scope, dimension, size, comprehensiveness, diameter, span, latitude, spread, broadness, gamut, area, stretch, largeness, space, reach, orbit

Example sentences from the Web for breadth

British Dictionary definitions for breadth

breadth
/ (brɛdθ, brɛtθ) /

noun

the linear extent or measurement of something from side to side; width
a piece of fabric having a standard or definite width
distance, extent, size, or dimension
openness and lack of restriction, esp of viewpoint or interest; liberality

Word Origin for breadth

C16: from obsolete brēde (from Old English brǣdu, from brād broad) + -th 1; related to Gothic braidei, Old High German breitī