brute

UK: /ˈbruːt/ US: /brut/ ,(bro̅o̅t)

Inflections of 'brute' (v): (⇒ conjugate)

brutes

v 3rd person singular

bruting

v pres p

bruted

v past

bruted

v past p

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

brute /brut/   n. [countable]

1. an animal;
   beast:
   It has been said that we humans are somewhere between angels and brutes.
2. a savage, insensitive, or crude person:
   She thought he was just a big brute.
3. [singular] the animal qualities, desires, etc., of humans:
   to bring out the brute in someone.

adj. [before a noun]

4. like an animal, as in strength or cruelty:
   brute force.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

brute¹  (bro̅o̅t), n. 

1. a nonhuman creature;
   beast.
2. a brutal, insensitive, or crude person.
3. the animal qualities, desires, etc., of humankind:
   Father felt that rough games brought out the brute in us.

adj. 

4. animal;
   not human.
5. not characterized by intelligence or reason;
   irrational.
6. characteristic of animals;
   of brutal character or quality.
7. savage;
   cruel:
   brute force.
8. carnal;
   sensual.

• Latin brūtus heavy, devoid of feeling, irrational
• Middle French
• late Middle English 1375–1425

brute′like′, adj. 
brute′ly, adv. 
brute′ness, n. 
Synonyms

• 1. See animal. 

brute²  (bro̅o̅t), v.t., brut•ed, brut•ing. 

1. Jewelry to shape (a diamond) by rubbing with another diamond or a diamond chip.

• back formation from bruting a rough hewing (of a diamond), partial translation of French brutage literally, a roughing, equivalent. to brut rough, raw (see brute¹) + -age -age

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

brute / bruːt/ noun

1. any animal that is not a human; beast; lower animal
2. (as modifier): brute nature
3. a brutal person

adjective (prenominal)

1. wholly instinctive or physical (esp in the phrases brute strength, brute force)
2. without reason or intelligence
3. coarse and grossly sensual

Etymology: 15th Century: from Latin brūtus heavy, irrational; related to gravis heavy