Broom

• POS: Noun, Verb (transitive)

CIDE DICTIONARY

Broom, n. [OE. brom, brome, AS. brōm; akin to LG. bram, D. brem, OHG. brāmo broom, thornbush, G. brombeere blackberry. Cf. Bramble, n.].

•  A plant having twigs suitable for making brooms to sweep with when bound together; esp., the Cytisus scoparius of Western Europe, which is a low shrub with long, straight, green, angular branches, minute leaves, and large yellow flowers.  [1913 Webster]

  "No gypsy cowered o'er fires of furze and broom."  [1913 Webster]
•  An implement for sweeping floors, etc., commonly made of the panicles or tops of broom corn, bound together or attached to a long wooden handle; -- so called because originally made of the twigs of the broom.  [1913 Webster]

Butcher's broom, a plant (Ruscus aculeatus) of the Smilax family, used by butchers for brooms to sweep their blocks; -- called also knee holly. See Cladophyll. -- Dyer's broom, a species of mignonette (Reseda luteola), used for dyeing yellow; dyer's weed; dyer's rocket. -- Spanish broom. See under Spanish.

Broom, v. t. 

 See Bream.  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

Broom, n.
1 a long-handled brush of bristles, twigs, etc. for sweeping (orig. one made of twigs of broom).
2 any of various shrubs, esp. Cytisus scoparius bearing bright yellow flowers.

Idiom

new broom a newly appointed person eager to make changes.

Etymology

OE brom

THESAURUS

Broom

autoclave, brush, carpet sweeper, comb, currycomb, dishcloth, dishwasher, doormat, duster, dustpan, facecloth, hackle, hairbrush, handkerchief, holystone, hose, mop, napkin, pumice stone, rake, scraper, scrub brush, scrubber, serviette, sponge, sudarium, swab, toothbrush, toothpick, towel, vacuum cleaner, washboard, washer, washing machine, whisk, wisp, wringer

ROGET THESAURUS

Broom

Cleanness

N cleanness, cleanliness, purity, cleaning, purification, defecation, purgation, lustration, detersion, abstersion, epuration, mundation, ablution, lavation, colature, disinfection, drainage, sewerage, lavatory, laundry, washhouse, washerwoman, laundress, dhobi, laundryman, washerman, scavenger, dustman, sweep, white wings brush, broom, besom, mop, rake, shovel, sieve, riddle, screen, filter, blotter, napkin, cloth, maukin, malkin, handkerchief, towel, sudary, doyley, doily, duster, sponge, mop, swab, cover, drugget, wash, lotion, detergent, cathartic, purgative, purifier, disinfectant, aperient, benzene, benzine benzol, benolin, bleaching powder, chloride of lime, dentifrice, deobstruent, laxative, clean, cleanly, pure, immaculate, spotless, stainless, taintless, trig, without a stain, unstained, unspotted, unsoiled, unsullied, untainted, uninfected, sweet, sweet as a nut, neat, spruce, tidy, trim, gimp, clean as a new penny, like a cat in pattens, cleaned, kempt, abstergent, cathartic, cleansing, purifying, neatly, clean as a whistle.