broil Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun cooking by direct exposure to radiant heat (as over a fire or under a grill)
    broiling; grilling.
  2. verb cook under a broiler
    oven broil.
    • broil fish
  3. verb heat by a natural force
    bake.
    • The sun broils the valley in the summer
  4. verb be very hot, due to hot weather or exposure to the sun
    bake.
    • The town was broiling in the sun
    • the tourists were baking in the heat

WordNet

Broil noun
Etymology
F. brouiller to disorder, from LL. brogilus, broilus, brolium, thicket, wood, park; of uncertain origin; cf. W. brog a swelling out, OHG. proil marsh, G. brühl, MHG. brogen to rise. The meaning tumult, confusion, comes apparently from tangled undergrowth, thicket, and this possibly from the meaning to grow, rise, sprout.
Definitions
  1. A tumult; a noisy quarrel; a disturbance; a brawl; contention; discord, either between individuals or in the state.
    I will own that there is a haughtiness and fierceness in human nature which will which will cause innumerable broils, place men in what situation you please. Burke.
    Syn. -- Contention; fray; affray; tumult; altercation; dissension; discord; contest; conflict; brawl; uproar.
Broil transitive verb
Etymology
OE. broilen, OF. bruillir, fr. bruir to broil, burn; of Ger. origin; cf. MHG. brüejen, G. brühen, to scald, akin to E. brood.
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Broiled present participle & verbal noun Broiling
Definitions
  1. To cook by direct exposure to heat over a fire, esp. upon a gridiron over coals.
  2. To subject to great (commonly direct) heat.
Broil intransitive verb
Definitions
  1. To be subjected to the action of heat, as meat over the fire; to be greatly heated, or to be made uncomfortable with heat.
    The planets and comets had been broiling in the sun. Cheyne.

Webster 1913