B2 noun Neutral

brooch

/brəʊtʃ/

A brooch is a decorative piece of jewelry that is designed to be attached to a person's clothing. It features a pin on the back to fasten it securely to a garment, often serving as both an ornament and a functional clasp.

Examples

3 of 5
1

She wore a small silver brooch on her cardigan for the family dinner.

She had a tiny silver pin attached to her sweater for the family meal.

2

The dignitary arrived wearing a diamond-encrusted brooch representing her national crest.

The official came wearing a pin covered in diamonds that showed her country's symbol.

3

I found this cool vintage brooch at the flea market for just two dollars!

I discovered this stylish old-fashioned pin at the outdoor market for a very low price.

Word Family

Noun
brooch
Adjective
brooched
Related
jewelry
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Memory Tip

Think of the 'oo' in 'brooch' as two round jewels or two eyes looking at the beautiful pin on your shirt.

Quick Quiz

For her wedding, she decided to wear her grandmother's antique ________ pinned to her lace dress.

Correct!

The correct answer is: brooch

Examples

1

She wore a small silver brooch on her cardigan for the family dinner.

everyday

She had a tiny silver pin attached to her sweater for the family meal.

2

The dignitary arrived wearing a diamond-encrusted brooch representing her national crest.

formal

The official came wearing a pin covered in diamonds that showed her country's symbol.

3

I found this cool vintage brooch at the flea market for just two dollars!

informal

I discovered this stylish old-fashioned pin at the outdoor market for a very low price.

4

Archaeological evidence indicates that the ornate brooch was a marker of high social status in Iron Age societies.

academic

Historical findings show that the decorated pin was a sign of wealth in ancient times.

5

The corporate dress code allows for subtle accessories such as a simple gold brooch on a blazer.

business

The company rules permit modest jewelry like a plain gold pin on a suit jacket.

Word Family

Noun
brooch
Adjective
brooched
Related
jewelry

Common Collocations

vintage brooch an old-fashioned or antique decorative pin
silver brooch a decorative pin made of silver
fasten a brooch to attach the jewelry to one's clothing
heirloom brooch a decorative pin passed down through generations
ornamental brooch a pin used primarily for decoration

Common Phrases

antique brooch

a valuable old decorative pin

cameo brooch

a pin featuring a carved profile of a face

safety-pin brooch

a decorative pin styled like a safety pin

Often Confused With

brooch vs broach

Broach is a verb meaning to bring up a difficult subject for discussion, whereas brooch is a noun for jewelry.

📝

Usage Notes

A brooch is almost always worn on the upper part of a garment, typically on a lapel or the chest area. While traditionally associated with older fashion, it is frequently used in contemporary styling to add personality to coats and scarves.

⚠️

Common Mistakes

The most common mistake is misspelling the jewelry item as 'broach.' Remember that 'broach' relates to speech, while 'brooch' relates to clothing.

💡

Memory Tip

Think of the 'oo' in 'brooch' as two round jewels or two eyes looking at the beautiful pin on your shirt.

📖

Word Origin

Derived from the Old French 'broche', meaning a long needle or a spit for roasting meat, referring to the pin on the back.

Grammar Patterns

countable noun plural: brooches usually follows the verb 'wear' or 'fasten'
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Cultural Context

In many Western cultures, brooches are often kept as family heirlooms and are frequently worn by members of royalty to convey subtle political or personal messages.

Quick Quiz

For her wedding, she decided to wear her grandmother's antique ________ pinned to her lace dress.

Correct!

The correct answer is: brooch

Related Words

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multiscribate

C1

A multiscribate is a document, manuscript, or text that has been written in several different scripts, handwriting styles, or by multiple distinct scribes. It is primarily used in paleography and archival studies to describe items that lack graphic uniformity due to their collaborative or chronological production.

microacrsion

C1

Describing subtle, indirect, or unintentional actions or comments that communicate bias or hostility toward marginalized groups. It characterizes behaviors that, while seemingly minor, contribute to a pervasive environment of exclusion and psychological distress.

decadment

C1

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postsectile

C1

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adloctude

C1

Describing a person or communicative style characterized by a formal and direct manner of address. It implies a state of being rhetorically accessible while maintaining a sense of authoritative presence.

prevocant

C1

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macrosomnor

C1

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monomutic

C1

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subparsion

C1

The act or process of analyzing a smaller constituent part of a larger linguistic or data structure. It refers to a secondary level of parsing where individual elements are broken down into more granular components after an initial broad analysis.

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