The spelling of the word "breadth" can be confusing because it has the silent letter "d". Its pronunciation is /brɛdθ/ (bred-th), with the "th" sound being made by placing the tongue between the teeth and blowing out air. The word refers to the measurement from one side to the other, of something's width or extent. It is commonly used in architecture, art, and sciences like physics and medicine. "Breadth" is also a synonym for "diversity", showing the wide range of something.
Breadth is a noun that refers to the measurement of the distance or extent of something from side to side or from one extreme point to another. It is often used to describe the width, scope, or range of something, whether it is physical or abstract.
In a physical sense, breadth can describe the width or expanse of an object, such as a piece of fabric or a room. It measures the distance across or from edge to edge, highlighting how wide or broad something is.
In a more abstract sense, breadth refers to the extent or scope of something, often regarding knowledge, skills, or experiences. It represents the wide range or variety of something, emphasizing the diversity or comprehensiveness of a subject matter.
For example, in terms of knowledge, someone can possess a breadth of knowledge if they have a broad understanding of various disciplines or a wide range of topics. Similarly, a company with a breadth of products or services offers a diverse range of options to its customers.
Overall, breadth encompasses the concept of width or extent, whether it pertains to physical measurements, the scope of knowledge or experiences, or the range of something. It signifies the dimensions, comprehensiveness, and inclusiveness that contribute to the overall breadth of a particular subject or object.
A noun formed from the adj. broad; extent of surface in the shortest direction; width.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word "breadth" originated from the Old English word "brǣdu", which meant "breadth, width, size". It is derived from the Proto-Germanic word "braido", which has the same basic meaning. The Proto-Germanic root "braido" is also related to the Old Norse word "breiðr" and the Old Frisian word "brede", both of which mean "broad". Ultimately, the word can be traced back to the Proto-Indo-European root "*bhreu-", meaning "to swell, sprout, rise". This root eventually gave rise to several words related to width and breadth in various Indo-European languages.