brook Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun a natural stream of water smaller than a river (and often a tributary of a river)
    creek.
    • the creek dried up every summer
  2. verb put up with something or somebody unpleasant
    stomach; support; put up; tolerate; bear; abide; endure; stick out; suffer; digest; stand.
    • I cannot bear his constant criticism
    • The new secretary had to endure a lot of unprofessional remarks
    • he learned to tolerate the heat
    • She stuck out two years in a miserable marriage

WordNet

Brook noun
Etymology
OE. brok, broke, brook, AS. broc; akin to D. broek, LG. brok, marshy ground, OHG. pruoh, G. bruch marsh; prob. fr. the root of E. break, so as that it signifies water breaking through the earth, a spring or brook, as well as a marsh. See Break, v. t.
Definitions
  1. A natural stream of water smaller than a river or creek.
    The Lord thy God bringeth thee into a good land, a land of brooks of water. Deut. viii. 7.
    Empires itself, as doth an inland brook Into the main of waters. Shak.
Brook transitive verb
Etymology
OE. broken, bruken, to use, enjoy, digest, AS. brcan; akin to D. gebruiken to use, OHG. prhhan, G. brauchen, gebrauchen, Icel. brka, Goth. brkjan, and L. frui, to enjoy. Cf. Fruit, Broker.
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Brooked present participle & verbal noun Brooking
Definitions
  1. To use; to enjoy. Obs. Chaucer.
  2. To bear; to endure; to put up with; to tolerate; as, young men can not brook restraint. Spenser.
    Shall we, who could not brook one lord, Crouch to the wicked ten? Macaulay.
  3. To deserve; to earn. Obs. Sir J. Hawkins.

Webster 1913