Brood — Defs

01 n. The young birds hatched at one time; a hatch; as, a brood of chickens.

1.
The young birds hatched at one time; a hatch; as, a brood of chickens.
“As a hen doth gather her brood under her wings.” — Luke xiii. 34.

“A hen followed by a brood of ducks.” — Spectator.
2.
The young from the same dam, whether produced at the same time or not; young children of the same mother, especially if nearly of the same age; offspring; progeny; as, a woman with a brood of children.
“The lion roars and gluts his tawny brood.” — Wordsworth.
3.
That which is bred or produced; breed; species.
“Flocks of the airy brood, (Cranes, geese or long-necked swans).” — Chapman.
4.
Heavy waste in tin and copper ores.(Mining)

Phrases & compounds

To sit on brood — to ponder.

02 a. Sitting or inclined to sit on eggs.

1.
Sitting or inclined to sit on eggs.
2.
Kept for breeding from; as, a brood mare; brood stock; having young; as, a brood sow.

03 v. i. To sit on and cover eggs, as a fowl, for the purpose of warming them and hatching the young; or to sit over and cover young, as a hen her c…

imp. & p. p. Brooded; p. pr. & vb. n. Brooding

1.
To sit on and cover eggs, as a fowl, for the purpose of warming them and hatching the young; or to sit over and cover young, as a hen her chickens, in order to warm and protect them; hence, to sit quietly, as if brooding.
“Birds of calm sir brooding on the charmed wave.” — Milton.
2.
To have the mind dwell continuously or moodily on a subject; to think long and anxiously; to be in a state of gloomy, serious thought; -- usually followed by over or on; as, to brood over misfortunes.
“Brooding on unprofitable gold.” — Dryden.

“Brooding over all these matters, the mother felt like one who has evoked a spirit.” — Hawthorne.

“When with downcast eyes we muse and brood.” — Tennyson.

04 v. t. To sit over, cover, and cherish; as, a hen broods her chickens.

1.
To sit over, cover, and cherish; as, a hen broods her chickens.
2.
To cherish with care.[R.]
3.
To think anxiously or moodily upon.
“You'll sit and brood your sorrows on a throne.” — Dryden.