Definition

1. Noun:

   • A small, natural freshwater stream, typically smaller than a river and often feeding into a larger river or body of water.

2. Verb:

   • To tolerate or endure something unpleasant or disagreeable. This usage is formal and often used in negative contexts or to indicate a strong unwillingness to accept.

Examples

• Noun:

  • We followed the babbling brook through the forest.
  • The children loved to catch frogs in the shallow brook.

• Verb:

  • She would not brook any interference in her personal affairs.
  • His pride could not brook such a public insult.

Advanced Usage

• "brook no...": This is a common formal construction meaning "to not tolerate something at all."
  • The principal brooks no nonsense from the students.
  • This delicate situation brooks no delay.

Variants and Related Words

• Stream (n): A general term for a small, flowing body of water. (A brook is a type of stream.)
• Creek (n): Similar to a brook; a small stream. (Usage can vary regionally.)
• Tolerate (v): A more common synonym for the verb form of "brook."
• Endure (v): To suffer something painful or difficult patiently.

Synonyms

• Noun: Stream, creek, rivulet, runnel, rill.
• Verb: Tolerate, endure, bear, stand, abide, stomach, countenance.

Phrasal Verbs

(This word does not commonly form phrasal verbs.)

Related Idioms

• "To brook no argument/opposition/delay": A formal idiom meaning to absolutely not allow or accept something.
  • The king brooked no opposition to his rule.
  • The emergency brooks no delay; we must act now.

Noun

1. a natural stream of water smaller than a river (and often a tributary of a river)
   • the creek dried up every summer

Verb

1. put up with something or somebody unpleasant
   • I cannot bear his constant criticism
   • The new secretary had to endure a lot of unprofessional remarks
   • he learned to tolerate the heat
   • She stuck out two years in a miserable marriage