[brood] n [ME, fr. OE brod; akin to OE beorma yeast--more at barm] (bef. 12c) 1: the young of an animal or a family of young; esp: the young (as of a bird or insect) hatched or cared for at one time
2: a group having a common nature or origin
[2]brood adj (15c): kept for breeding "a ~ flock" [3]brood vt (15c) 1 a: to sit on or incubate (eggs) b: to produce by or as if by incubation: hatch
2. of a bird: to cover (young) with the wings
3: to think anxiously or gloomily about: ponder ~ vi 1 a of a bird: to brood eggs or young b: to sit quietly and thoughtfully: meditate
2: hover, loom 3 a: to dwell gloomily on a subject: worry b: to be in a state of depression -- brood.ing.ly adv