brute 1
— brutelike , adj. — brutely , adv. — bruteness , n.
/brooht/ , n.
1. a nonhuman creature; beast.
2. a brutal, insensitive, or crude person.
3. the animal qualities, desires, etc., of humankind: Father felt that rough games brought out the brute in us.
adj.
4. animal; not human.
5. not characterized by intelligence or reason; irrational.
6. characteristic of animals; of brutal character or quality.
7. savage; cruel: brute force.
8. carnal; sensual.
[ 1375-1425; late ME brutus heavy, devoid of feeling, irrational ]
Syn. 1. See animal .
brute 2
/brooht/ , v.t., bruted, bruting .
to shape (a diamond) by rubbing with another diamond or a diamond chip.
[ back formation from bruting a rough hewing (of a diamond), partial trans. of F brutage lit., a roughing, equiv. to brut rough, raw (see BRUTE 1 ) + -age -AGE ]