n. 1 the distance or measurement from side to side of a thing; broadness. 2 a piece (of cloth etc.) of standard or full breadth. 3 extent, distance, room. 4 (usu. foll. by of) capacity to respect other opinions; freedom from prejudice or intolerance (esp. breadth of mind or view). 5 Art unity of the whole, achieved by the disregard of unnecessary details. breadthways adv. breadthwise adv.
[ obs. brede, OE brdu, f. Gmc, rel. to BROAD ]