broaden

Meanings

1. 1
   verb

   to become wider or larger in scope

   The road broadened when it left the city.

2. 2
   verb

   to make something wider or larger in scope

   The crew was told to broaden the road.

3. 3
   verb

   to vary in order to spread risk or to expand

   We need to broaden our investments.

4. 4
   verb

   to extend in scope or range or area

   You should broaden your horizons.

5. 5
   verb

   To make broad or broader.

   broaden one’s knowledge

6. 6
   verb

   To become broad or broader.

   The roads gradually broadened as we drove into the countryside.

7. 7
   name

   A surname from Old English.

Etymology

Perhaps a topographic surname for someone who lived in a broad valley, from Old English brād (“broad”) + dene (“valley”). Alternatively, it could be a variant of the surname Braden.