brother: Meaning and Definition of

broth•er

Pronunciation: (bru'ur or, for 9, bru'ûr'), [key]
— n., pl. interj. brothers, brethren
—n.
  1. a male offspring having both parents in common with another offspring; a male sibling.
  2. a male offspring having only one parent in common with another offspring.
  3. a stepbrother.
  4. a male numbered among the same kinship group, nationality, race, profession, etc., as another; an associate; a fellow member, fellow countryman, fellow man, etc.: a fraternity brother.
    1. (often cap.) a male numbered among the lay members of a religious organization that has a priesthood.
    2. a man who devotes himself to the duties of a religious order without taking holy orders, or while preparing for holy orders.
  5. all members of a particular race, or of the human race in general: All men are brothers.
  6. fellow; buddy: Brother, can you spare a dime?
  7. a black man; soul brother.
—interj.
  1. (used to express disappointment, disgust, or surprise).
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.
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