A small stream of water: After a long hot hike, Tomeka washed her feet in the cool water of the brook.

1. To put up with, to bear with, to tolerate, or to endure: Erwin was an intolerant dictator who would brook no interference with his policies.

The teacher said he would not brook such outrageous conduct by students in the classroom.

2. Etymology: from Old English brucan, "to use, to enjoy".

The word brook is nearly always used now with a negative construction; such as, "no brooking" or "not brooked".