n.
Pronunciation: ' br ə - th ə r
Function: noun
Inflected Form: plural brothers also breth · ren \ ' bre th -r ə n; ' bre- th ə -r ə n, - th ə rn \
Etymology: Middle English, from Old English br ō thor; akin to Old High German bruodor brother, Latin frater, Greek phrat ē r member of the same clan
Date: before 12th century
1 : a male who has the same parents as another or one parent in common with another
2 : one related to another by common ties or interests
3 : a fellow member ― used as a title for ministers in some evangelical denominations
4 : one of a type similar to another
5 a : KINSMAN b : one who shares with another a common national or racial origin especially : SOUL BROTHER
6 a capitalized : a member of a congregation of men not in holy orders and usually in hospital or school work b : a member of a men's religious order who is not preparing for or is not ready for holy orders <a lay brother >