Brooding: meaning, definitions and examples

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brooding

 

[ ˈbruː.dɪŋ ]

Adjective / Noun
Context #1 | Adjective

mood

Showing deep unhappiness of thought; appearing dark and threatening

Synonyms

contemplative, melancholic, pensive, thoughtful

Examples of usage

  • He sat in brooding silence.
  • Her brooding eyes stared into the distance.
  • The brooding clouds signaled an approaching storm.
Context #2 | Noun

bird behavior

Sitting on eggs to hatch them by warming them with the body heat

Synonyms

incubating, sitting

Examples of usage

  • The hen was brooding her eggs in the nest.
  • The brooding process is essential for the eggs to hatch.

Translations

Translations of the word "brooding" in other languages:

🇵🇹 meditativo

🇮🇳 विचारशील

🇩🇪 grübelnd

🇮🇩 merenung

🇺🇦 замислений

🇵🇱 zamyślony

🇯🇵 物思いにふける

🇫🇷 réfléchi

🇪🇸 meditabundo

🇹🇷 dalgın

🇰🇷 생각에 잠긴

🇸🇦 مفكر

🇨🇿 zamyšlený

🇸🇰 zádumčivý

🇨🇳 沉思的

🇸🇮 zamisljen

🇮🇸 hugsi

🇰🇿 ойланғыш

🇬🇪 ჩაფიქრებული

🇦🇿 düşüncəli

🇲🇽 meditabundo

Word origin

The word 'brooding' originates from the Old English word 'brōdian', meaning to brood or incubate. Over time, the meaning expanded to include the sense of deep thought or contemplation. The adjective form of 'brooding' developed in the 17th century, referring to a dark and threatening appearance. In the context of bird behavior, 'brooding' has been used to describe the act of sitting on eggs to keep them warm for hatching.

See also: brood, broodmare.

Word Frequency Rank

At position #14,425, this word is part of sophisticated English vocabulary. It's useful for academic or professional contexts where precise language is needed.