[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/brook/)

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# brook

noun (a brook, brooks); verb (brook, brooks, brooked, brooking — formal)

«brook» in the English dictionary: everyday and in Jewish tradition — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. A small stream of fresh water. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/brook/#m1)
2. (formal, verb) To allow or put up with something, usually in the negative: «She would brook no argument» means she would not allow any argument. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/brook/#m2)

### In the lessons

In nature lessons and stories a brook is a little stream running through fields and woods, smaller than a river. Poems often describe it «babbling». The verb sense is formal and found in older books: «brook no delay», «brook no interference». In The Wind in the Willows small brooks run down to the river.

### Examples

- We jumped across the little brook in the meadow. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/brook/#x1)
- The brook babbled over the stones. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/brook/#x2)
- Minnows swam in the clear brook. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/brook/#x3)
- Cows drank from the brook at the bottom of the field. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/brook/#x4)
- The water from the brook flows into the river. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/brook/#x5)
- The teacher would brook no talking during the test. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/brook/#x6)
- Grandad would brook no nonsense at the dinner table. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/brook/#x7)
- A Dove saw an Ant fall into a brook. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/brook/#x8)

### Note

Size order: brook / stream / creek (US, Australia) are small; river is big. The verb is formal and almost always used with «no» or «not». Brook is also a surname and a girl's name (often spelt Brooke).

## In Jewish tradition

Brooks in the Tanakh are real places that mark borders and battles, such as the brook Zered, the Brook of Egypt, the Kishon and the Kidron. The psalms say God can split a brook open and dry up rivers, as a sign of His power.

**Interpretation.** The rabbis read the "Brook of Egypt" as a marker of the edge of the promised land. The Kishon sweeping the enemy away is read as God helping Deborah's army.

### Examples

- Now rise up, and get you over the brook Zered.' And we went over the brook Zered. (Torah DEU.2.13, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/B/brook/#x1)
- From thence they journeyed unto Gudgod; and from Gudgod to Jotbah, a land of brooks of water. — (Torah DEU.10.7, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/B/brook/#x2)
- and the border shall turn about from Azmon unto the Brook of Egypt, and the goings out thereof shall be at the Sea. (Torah NUM.34.5, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/B/brook/#x3)
- Thou didst cleave fountain and brook; Thou driedst up ever-flowing rivers. (Writings PSA.74.15, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/B/brook/#x4)
- The brook Kishon swept them away, that ancient brook, the brook Kishon. (Prophets JDG.5.21, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/B/brook/#x5)
- And the Levites took it, to carry it out abroad to the brook Kidron. (Writings 2CH.29.16, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/B/brook/#x6)

### Note

Size order: brook / stream / creek (US, Australia) are small; river is big. The verb is formal and almost always used with «no» or «not». Brook is also a surname and a girl's name (often spelt Brooke).

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «brook» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/brook/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«brook» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/brook.html) on Mova free.
- [Trees and pragmatics of «brook» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/B/brook/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«brook» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/judaism/w/brook.html) on Mova free.