brother

Universal Words noun, exclamation noun in family 1 a boy or man who has the same mother and father as another person: We're brothers. * He's my brother. * an older / younger brother * a twin brother * Does she have any brothers and sisters? * Edward was the youngest of the Kennedy brothers. * He was like a brother to me (= very close). seealsoHALF-BROTHER, STEPBROTHER other men 2 (plural brothers or old-fashioned brethren) used for talking to or talking about other male members of an organization or other men who have the same ideas, purpose, etc. as yourself: We must work together, brothers! * We are all brothers in the fight against injustice. * He was greatly respected by his brother officers. * We must support our weaker brethren. in religious group 3 (also Brother) (plural brethren or brothers) a male member of a religious group, especially a MONK: Brother Luke * The Brethren meet regularly for prayer. form of address 4 (AmE, informal) used by black people as a form of address for a black man at college / university 5 (in the US) a member of a FRATERNITY (= a club for a group of male students at a college or university) exclamation (old-fashioned, especially AmE) used to express the fact that you are annoyed or surprised: Oh brother!