breadth

Everyday

1. Breadth is how wide something is; its width from side to side. tree →
2. Breadth is how many different things something includes, as in «breadth of knowledge». tree →
3. «By a hair's breadth» means only just, by a very tiny amount. tree →

In the lessons

In maths, breadth is another word for width: area of a rectangle = length × breadth. In school reports, «breadth of curriculum» means many subjects. In stories, someone escapes «by a hair's breadth». Phrases: length and breadth, the length and breadth of, a hair's breadth, breadth of knowledge.

Examples

• The pool is 25 m long and 10 m in breadth. tree →
• The area is length × breadth: 6 × 4 = 24 square metres. tree →
• She travelled the length and breadth of the country. tree →
• The ball missed the goal by a hair's breadth. tree →
• The teacher has a great breadth of knowledge. tree →
• Measure the length and the breadth of your desk. tree →
• That time he almost touched it—no, he missed it by a hair’s breadth! tree →

Note

Spelling trap: «breadth» has a d before th; say BREDTH. The adjective is «broad». In maths, breadth = width; the perimeter of a rectangle is 2 × (length + breadth). Do not confuse with «breath» (air) or «bread».

In Jewish tradition

In maths, breadth is another word for width: area of a rectangle = length × breadth. In school reports, «breadth of curriculum» means many subjects. In stories, someone escapes «by a hair's breadth». Phrases: length and breadth, the length and breadth of, a hair's breadth, breadth of knowledge.

Examples

• And the breadth of the court on the east side eastward shall be fifty cubits. (Torah EXO.27.13, JPS 1917) tree →
• Four-square it shall be and double: a span shall be the length thereof, and a span the breadth thereof. (Torah EXO.28.16, JPS 1917) tree →
• Ten cubits was the length of a board, and a cubit and a half the breadth of each board. (Torah EXO.36.21, JPS 1917) tree →
• Hast thou surveyed unto the breadths of the earth? (Writings JOB.38.18, JPS 1917) tree →
• The length by cubits after the ancient measure was threescore cubits, and the breadth twenty cubits. (Writings 2CH.3.3, JPS 1917) tree →
• By the breath of God ice is given, and the breadth of the waters is straitened. (Writings JOB.37.10, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

Spelling trap: «breadth» has a d before th; say BREDTH. The adjective is «broad». In maths, breadth = width; the perimeter of a rectangle is 2 × (length + breadth). Do not confuse with «breath» (air) or «bread».