brim
noun · verb
Simple meaning
The topmost lip or rim of a container, or a natural feature shaped like a container.
Pronunciation
Say it like this:
brimIPA pronunciation (US)
ˈbɹɪm
This word is pronounced essentially the same in American and British English, so one transcription covers both.
IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) is a standard way of writing speech sounds.
Definition
Everyday modern meanings first, grouped by part of speech.
noun
The topmost lip or rim of a container, or a natural feature shaped like a container.
especially
A circular projection that sticks outward from the crown of a hat
A projecting rim.
Originally, a border or edge of a sea, a river, or other body of water; now, any border or edge.
AustraliaUS
Synonym of bream ("a freshwater fish from one of a number of genera"); specifically (US), the redbreast sunfish (Lepomis auritus).
verb
transitive
To fill (a container) to the brim (noun etymology 1, sense 1.1), top, or upper edge.
Fill as much as possible
Be completely full
transitivefigurative
To fill (something) fully.
intransitivealso figurative
To be full until almost overflowing.
transitive
Of a boar ("male pig"): to mate with (a sow ("female pig")); to rut.
Word Aura™
How this word commonly comes across.
Aura for this meaning
This meaning: To fill (a container) to the brim (noun etymology 1, sense 1.1), top, or upper edge.
Used this way, brim is a reasonably familiar word that usually carries little praise or criticism of its own. This is a grammar or language-study use: it describes how language works, so it appears in teaching and reference writing.
- Emotional tone
- Neutral
- Formality
- Formal
- Intensity
- Not strongly marked
- How common
- Moderately common
- Connotation
- No strong connotation
- Usage feel
- Formal and precise
Where it naturally appears
- Academic writing
- Education/classroom
- Technical/specialist writing
Usage note
Comfortable in writing and prepared speech; in casual conversation a shorter everyday word usually sounds more natural.
Word Aura describes common impressions, not a measurement. Tone changes with sentence, speaker, relationship and situation.
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Dictionary data from Wiktionary via the Free Dictionary API. Simple meanings, combinations and word intelligence are built from verified reference data, no AI is used to load this page.