abroad

English Online Dictionary. What means abroad‎? What does abroad mean?

English

Alternative forms

• abrode (obsolete)
• overbroad (obsolete)

Etymology

First attested in mid 13th century. From Middle English abrood (“broadly widely scattered”), from a- (“on, in”) + brood (“broad”). Equivalent to a- +‎ broad.

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /əˈbɹɔːd/
• (US) IPA^(key): /əˈbɹɔd/
• (cot–caught merger) IPA^(key): /əˈbɹɑd/
• Rhymes: -ɔːd

Adverb

abroad (not comparable)

1. Beyond the bounds of a country; in foreign countries. [from 1350–1470]
2. (dated) At large; widely; broadly; over a wide space. [from 1150–1350]
4. (dated) Without a certain confine; outside the house; away from one's abode. [from 1150–1350)]
5. (dated) Before the public at large; throughout society or the world; here and there; moving without restriction. [from late 15^th c.]
6. Not on target; astray; in error; confused; dazed. [from early 19^th c.]
7. (sports) Played elsewhere than one's home grounds.

Derived terms

Translations

Noun

abroad

1. (rare, Scotland) Countries or lands abroad. [First attested in the mid 19^th century.]
   • 1929, King George V, widely (and variously) quoted:

     I hate abroad, abroad’s bloody.

   • 2001 March 13, The Earl of Onslow, speaking in the House of Lords, quoted in Hansard:

     That is not a xenophobic remark. I am a xenophiliac; I love abroad. I love foreigners. I just do not like the way that they are running the European agricultural policy.

Derived terms

• near abroad

Translations

Preposition

abroad

1. Throughout, over.

Translations

Adjective

abroad (not comparable)

1. (nonstandard, chiefly non-native speakers’ English) International.

References

• "Now abroad has entered English as a noun" - The New York Times, "ON LANGUAGE; The Near Abroad", William Safire, May 22, 1994, quoting Christian Caryl

Anagrams

• A board, Baroda, aboard, aborad