breadth

[bredth, bretth, breth]

noun

1. the measure of the second largest dimension of a plane or solid figure; width.

2. an extent or piece of something of definite or full width or as measured by its width.

   a breadth of cloth.

3. freedom from narrowness or restraint; liberality.

   a person with great breadth of view.

   Synonyms: open-mindedness, impartiality, latitude

4. size in general; extent.

   Synonyms: compass, reach, range, scope, span

5. Art.,  a broad or general effect due to subordination of details or nonessentials.

breadth

/ brɛtθ, brɛdθ /

noun

1. the linear extent or measurement of something from side to side; width

2. a piece of fabric having a standard or definite width

3. distance, extent, size, or dimension

4. openness and lack of restriction, esp of viewpoint or interest; liberality

Other Word Forms

• breadthless adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of breadth¹

1515–25; earlier bredeth, equivalent to brede breadth ( Middle English; Old English brǣdu, equivalent to brǣd-, mutated variant of brād broad + -u noun suffix) + -th ¹ ( def. ) akin to German Breite, Gothic braidei

Word History and Origins

Origin of breadth¹

C16: from obsolete brēde (from Old English brǣdu , from brād _broad ) + _-th ¹ ; related to Gothic braidei , Old High German breitī

Example Sentences

Mr Rhys said arts funding was required "to maintain and develop our important venues and enable creativity and community to flourish the length and breadth of Wales".

From BBC

I have looked in on the franchise now and again, professionally, as new iterations have extended the length and breadth of the brand, which technically reaches back into “JAG,” from which it was spun off.

From Los Angeles Times

Recent polls have shown the depth and breadth of economic anxiety and anger Americans are feeling about the economy.

From Salon

She said that while the "recording of harm" is not new, the "diversity, breadth and capability of that technology, and how that has changed the type of harm" is.

From BBC

That Black people played a foundational role in American history isn’t a question, although depictions of the breadth and variety of that experience are still rare.

From Salon

Related Words

• comprehensiveness www.thesaurus.com
• dimension 
• fullness 
• magnitude 
• range 
• scale 
• scope 
• size