broods

Noun

brood (countable and uncountable, plural broods)

1. The young of certain animals, especially a group of young birds or fowl hatched at one time by the same mother.
   • As a hen doth gather her brood under her wings.1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Luke 13:34
2. (uncountable) The young of any egg-laying creature, especially if produced at the same time.
3. The eggs and larvae of social insects such as bees, ants and some wasps, especially when gathered together in special brood chambers or combs within the colony.
4. The children in one family; offspring.
   • Ay, lord, she will become thy bed, I warrant, / And bring thee forth brave brood.1610–1611 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tempest”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published...
5. That which is bred or produced; breed; species.
   • […] flocks of the airy brood,
     Cranes, geese or long-neck'd swans, here, there, proud of their pinions fly […]1598, George Chapman translation of Homer's Iliad, Book 2
6. Parentage.

See all 13 meanings of brood