Broadway

Wikipedia

English

Etymology

The Old English words "broad way" have been used to name wide roads and associated settlements for over a thousand years. Documented examples include Broadway, Somerset and Broadway, Worcestershire, England, which are listed in the Domesday Book census of 1086AD as "Bradewie" and "Bradeweia" respectively.

Pronunciation

• IPA: /ˈbɹɔdwej/

• Audio (US)

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Proper noun

Broadway

1. A street name found in a number of anglophone settlements, typically referring to a wide road; a broad way.
2. A settlement which grew up around such a road, eg. Broadway, Worcestershire, Broadway, Somerset.
3. Notably, in the Borough of Manhattan, in New York City, a wide road cutting a lazy diagonal through the mostly rigid grid-system.
4. The theater district of Manhattan; specifically, those theaters (most of which are actually not fronting on Broadway) covered by contracts between the theater owners and the theatrical unions.
5. The American theater industry.

Noun

Broadway

1. (poker slang) The highest straight in poker, ace-king-queen-jack-ten.

Derived terms

• Broadway stage
• Broadway show
• Broadway musical
• off-Broadway, off-off-Broadway, off-off-off Broadway

Adjective

Broadway (not comparable)

1. (by extension if the proper noun senses) Flashy; showy.

   Since he got the recording contract, he's gone all Broadway.

References

• Weisenberg, Michael (2000) The Official Dictionary of Poker. MGI/Mike Caro University. ISBN 978-1880069523
• The Domesday Book (1086); section "Broadway, Somerset" http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/documentsonline/details-result.asp?Edoc_Id=7609338
• The Domesday Book (1086); section "Broadway, Worcestershire" http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/documentsonline/details-result.asp?Edoc_Id=7577729