broom

1 of 2

noun

ˈbrüm  ˈbru̇m 

1

: any of various leguminous shrubs (especially genera Cytisus and Genista) with long slender branches, small leaves, and usually showy yellow flowers

especially : scotch broom

2

: a bundle of firm stiff twigs or fibers bound together on a long handle especially for sweeping

broom

2 of 2

verb

broomed; brooming; brooms

transitive verb

1

: to sweep with or as if with a broom

2

: to finish (something, such as a concrete surface) by means of a broom

Examples of broom in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Tonight, the Flyers look to break out the brooms and sweep the Pens out of the NHL playoffs in Game 4 of their first-round series. —Tom Dougherty, CBS News, 25 Apr. 2026

The event features several dozen vendors with handmade crafts and supplies, such as artisan wool, demonstrations on wool spinning and rug weaving and workshops on crocheting to broom making. —Linda McIntosh, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Apr. 2026

Verb

It was left to the feds in Boston to arrest Farwell, after Meatball’s local yokels adamantly refused to do anything other than try to broom the crime by one of their own. —Howie Carr, Boston Herald, 26 Apr. 2026

If the horns are heavily broomed and look 1 ½ to two inches thick at the tip, the ram is a trophy. —Tim Kelly, Outdoor Life, 4 Sep. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, from Old English brōm; akin to Old High German brāmo bramble

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1838, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing broom

• push broom
• Scotch broom
• whisk broom

Rhymes for broom

• blume
• boom
• doom
• flume
• fume
• gloom
• glume
• groom
• loom
• plume
• rheum
• room

Kids Definition

broom

noun

ˈbrüm, 

ˈbru̇m

1

: a plant of the legume family that has long slender branches along which grow many drooping yellow flowers

2

: a brush that has a long handle and is used for sweeping

Medical Definition

broom

noun

ˈbrüm  ˈbru̇m 

: any of various leguminous shrubs (especially genera Cytisus and Genista) with long slender branches, upright growth, small leaves, and usually showy yellow flowers

especially : scotch broom see broom top