broth
B1Neutral to formal; common in culinary, medical, and metaphorical contexts.
Definition
Meaning
A liquid dish made by simmering meat, fish, or vegetables, often used as a base for soups, stews, or sauces.
A nutrient-rich liquid medium used for culturing microorganisms, or metaphorically, a lively mixture or situation ('a broth of intrigue').
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Differs from 'stock' in being seasoned and ready-to-eat; 'broth' is lighter and clearer than 'stew'.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is largely identical. 'Stock' is more culinary-professional in both, but 'broth' is the common term for the finished, seasoned liquid soup base.
Connotations
Both associate it with home cooking, comfort, and simplicity ('Scotch broth', 'chicken broth for a cold').
Frequency
Slightly more common in US everyday speech (e.g., 'bone broth' trend).
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[make/prepare/simmer] a broth[drink/sip] the broth[use/serve] broth [as/with] Xbroth [made from/of] YVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Too many cooks spoil the broth.”
- “A broth of confusion/trouble.”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare; metaphorical ('a broth of competing interests').
Academic
In microbiology ('culture broth'), historical/culinary studies.
Everyday
Common in cooking, health contexts ('she's having broth while ill').
Technical
In food science, microbiology, and professional cooking.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- I like chicken broth when I'm ill.
- She made a simple vegetable broth.
- Simmer the bones for two hours to make a rich broth.
- This recipe starts with a beef broth base.
- The political scandal created a broth of rumours and speculation.
- The microbiologist prepared a nutrient broth for the sample.
- His theory posits that the pre-war era was a broth of artistic innovation and social unrest.
- The consommé is a clarified broth, requiring meticulous preparation.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Broth rhymes with 'cloth' – imagine wiping a spill of thin, clear soup.
Conceptual Metaphor
LIQUID AS SUSTENANCE / ENVIRONMENT (a broth of ideas, a cultural broth).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'борщ' (borscht), which is a specific beet soup. 'Broth' is 'бульон'.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'broth' for thick, chunky soups (use 'stew' or 'chowder').
- Confusing 'broth' with 'soup' (broth is a type of soup).
Practice
Quiz
In microbiology, 'broth' primarily refers to:
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Broth is seasoned and ready to eat; stock is an unseasoned base for further cooking.
Yes, e.g., 'a broth of intrigue' meaning a confusing or lively mixture of elements.
Bone broth is a trendy term for stock simmered very long for extra collagen, but linguistically it's a type of broth/stock.
It's usually uncountable. For types, use 'broths' (e.g., 'various broths').