Brownie
/'brauni/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Noun:
- A square or bar of very rich chocolate cake, usually containing nuts: A small, dense, chocolate dessert, often baked in a pan and cut into individual portions.
- (Folklore) A benevolent elf or fairy that is somewhat mischievous: A mythical, helpful household spirit in folklore, said to perform helpful tasks at night.
- A junior Girl Scout: A member of a junior level of the Girl Scouts organization, typically for girls aged 5 to 10 (in some countries, like the UK, Brownies are part of the Girlguiding organization for girls aged 7 to 10).
Examples
- Noun (Dessert):
- She baked a pan of fudgy brownies for the school bake sale.
- Would you like a walnut brownie with your coffee?
- Noun (Folklore):
- The old tale says a brownie lives in the mill and mends tools for the miller.
- If you leave a bowl of cream out, a brownie might come and clean your kitchen.
- Noun (Girl Scout):
- My daughter just became a Brownie and loves earning badges.
- The Brownie troop went on a nature hike last weekend.
Advanced Usage
- "brownie points" (idiomatic, informal): Imaginary credit for doing something good or pleasing someone, especially an authority figure.
- I brought donuts for the team to earn some brownie points with my boss.
Variants and Related Words
- Brownie (capitalized): Specifically refers to the Girl Scout/Girlguiding member.
- Brownie camera: A brand of simple, box cameras popular in the 20th century (a proprietary name, not a direct variant of the word's core meanings).
Synonyms
- Dessert meaning: Chocolate square, fudge square, blondie (for a vanilla version).
- Folklore meaning: Hob, hobgoblin, elf, pixie (though these have nuanced differences).
- Scout meaning: Junior Girl Scout, Girlguiding member (specific to organization).
Related Phrases
- "brownie troop": The local group or unit of Brownies (Girl Scouts).
- The brownie troop meets every Tuesday in the church hall.
Related Idioms
- "to earn/get brownie points": To gain favor or approval through a helpful or sycophantic act.
- He washed his mom's car, hoping to get brownie points before asking to borrow it.
Noun
- square or bar of very rich chocolate cake usually with nuts
- (folklore) fairies that are somewhat mischievous
- a junior Girl Scout