I. ˈbrü verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: Middle English brewen, from Old English brēowan; akin to Old High German briuwan to brew, Old Norse brugginn brewed, Latin de frutum new wine boiled down, fervēre to boil — more at burn
transitive verb
1. : to prepare (as beer or ale from malt and hops) by steeping, boiling, and fermentation or by infusion and fermentation : convert into a fermented liquor
2.
a. : to bring about (something troublesome or woeful) as if by brewing magical potions or spells
brewing mischief
b. : to produce or bring about as if by mixing ingredients : contrive , concoct
aggression that the dictator was brewing
this air is brewed of hot sun and warm sea water — Wolfgang Langewiesche
3. obsolete : to dilute (liquor) : mix (as liquors)
4. : to prepare (as a drink or other liquid) by infusion especially in hot water
she is brewing the tea
broadly : to prepare any drink
intransitive verb
1. : to brew beer or ale especially as a business
2. : to be in a state of preparation
revolutionary … ways of getting around are brewing — James Cerruti
: be forming
the notion of essence … brewed early in Santayana — Justus Buchler
: gather
a storm brews in the west
: impend
trouble is brewing
II. noun
( -s )
1.
a. : a beverage formed by brewing
b. : a drink of such beverage (as coffee or tea) ; also : a glass of beer
I'll buy you a brew
2. : a product of brewing : mixture , concoction , batch
a devil's brew of cynicism, intrigue, and despair — Time
like the brew of an alchemist — Jean Stafford
— see witches' brew
3. : the process of brewing or being brewed
it was a loury evening with rain in brew — A.N.Whitehead
III. noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English brewe, literally, eyebrow, from Old English brū — more at brow
dialect Britain : a steep hill or overhanging bank