/ bəʊst; NAmE boʊst/ verb , noun
■ verb
1.
boast (about / of sth) to talk with too much pride about sth that you have or can do :
[ v ]
I don't want to boast, but I can actually speak six languages.
She is always boasting about how wonderful her children are.
He openly boasted of his skill as a burglar.
[ v that ]
Sam boasted that she could beat anyone at poker.
[also v speech ]
2.
[ vn ] (not used in the progressive tenses) to have sth that is impressive and that you can be proud of :
The hotel also boasts two swimming pools and a golf course.
■ noun
boast (that ... ) (often disapproving ) something that a person talks about in a very proud way, often to seem more important or clever :
Despite his boasts that his children were brilliant, neither of them went to college.
It was her proud boast that she had never missed a day's work because of illness.
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WORD ORIGIN
Middle English (as a noun): of unknown origin.