Definition

Noun: 1. A type of tall grass cultivated for its elongated, stiff-branched seed head (panicle), which is used in making brooms and brushes. * Broomcorn is a variety of sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) specifically grown not for grain, but for its long, fibrous panicles.

Usage

• Broomcorn is primarily an agricultural and commercial term.
• It is used as a mass noun (uncountable) when referring to the crop or material.
  • The farmer planted several acres of broomcorn.
  • Traditional brooms are often made from broomcorn.

Examples

• The stiff, durable fibers of broomcorn make it ideal for crafting household brooms.
• Before synthetic materials, broomcorn was the primary raw material for the broom industry.
• They harvested the broomcorn once the panicles had fully matured and dried.

Advanced Usage

• "Broomcorn millet": This is a distinct term for a different plant (, or proso millet) and is not a variant of broomcorn. It is important to distinguish between the two.

Variants and Related Words

• Sorghum (n): The broader genus of grasses to which broomcorn belongs. While all broomcorn is sorghum, not all sorghum is broomcorn (e.g., grain sorghum, sweet sorghum).
• Panicle (n): The loose, branching cluster of flowers or seed heads characteristic of grasses like broomcorn and oats.

Synonyms

• Broom straw (n): A common synonym, especially when referring to the harvested material ready for use.
  • She bought a bundle of broom straw to make a new hearth broom.

Different Meanings

• The word "broomcorn" has a single, specific meaning related to the plant and its use. It does not have other common definitions.

Noun

1. tall grasses grown for the elongated stiff-branched panicle used for brooms and brushes