I. ˈbred noun
( -s )
Usage: often attributive
Etymology: Middle English breed, from Old English brēad crumb, bread; akin to Old High German brōt bread, Old Norse brauth bread, Old English brēowan to brew — more at brew
1.
a. : a food made of a dough of flour or meal from grain with added liquid, shortening, and a leavening agent, the dough being kneaded, shaped, allowed to rise, and baked
b. : bread made from flours other than those of cereals
potato bread
c. : a loaf, biscuit, or cake of sweetened bread dough enriched with eggs and fruit
holiday bread
Easter bread
2. : a loaf, roll, or portion of bread
an altar bread
the breads for the communicants
3.
a. : food
give us this day our daily bread — Mt 6:11 (Authorized Version)
b. : livelihood ; especially : simple necessities without extras
earning his bread as a laborer
c.
(1) : a sustaining element
the price of the bread of health — Mary B. Spahr
(2) : something that is received or accepted in a way felt to resemble accepting or eating food
d. slang : money
Synonyms: see living
•
- bread upon the waters
II. transitive verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
1. : to cover with bread crumbs before cooking
a breaded pork chop
2. : to provide with a supply of bread
III. ˈbrēd
variant of brede