A brigade is one of the groups which an army is divided into.
...the men of the Seventh Armoured Brigade.
Synonyms: corps, company, force, unit More Synonyms of brigade
2. See also fire brigade
3. singular noun [noun NOUN]
You can use brigade to refer to a group of people who believe strongly in a particular thing or who share a particular characteristic.
[humorous]
...the healthy eating brigade.
...the black T-shirt brigade.
Synonyms: group, party, body, band More Synonyms of brigade
brigade in British English
(brɪˈɡeɪd)
noun
1.
a formation of fighting units, together with support arms and services, smaller than a division and usually commanded by a brigadier
2.
a group of people organized for a certain task
a rescue brigade
verb(transitive)
3.
to organize into a brigade
4.
to put or group together
Word origin
C17: from Old French, from Old Italian, from brigare to fight, perhaps of Celtic origin; see brigand
brigade in American English
(brɪˈgeɪd)
noun
1.
a large unit of soldiers
2.
a. Obsolete
a unit of the U.S. Army comprising two or more regiments
b.
now, a military unit composed of two or more battalions with service and administrative units
3.
a group of people organized to function as a unit in some work
a fire brigade
verb transitiveWord forms: briˈgaded or briˈgading
4.
to organize into a brigade
Word origin
Fr < MFr < OIt brigata, troop, company < brigare, to contend < briga, strife, quarrel
Examples of 'brigade' in a sentence
brigade
The one about having to call the fire brigade to put out the candles on his cake?
The Sun (2016)
Thank goodness for the London fire brigade.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Shortly afterwards the fire brigade arrived, and a detachment of special constables.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
The fire brigade is wonderful.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
An investigation was not carried out until 22 days after the accident because the ambulance service had not notified the fire brigade.
The Sun (2016)
Shall I call the fire brigade to get your arm out of there?
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
A spokesman for the London fire brigade said that part of a flat on the ground floor was alight.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
It is being tested by West Midlands fire brigade and is due to go into use next year.
The Sun (2016)
The fire brigade had to use a special heavy duty crane to lift her from her bed.
The Sun (2016)
The fire brigade and ambulance service were on hand.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
That is what the fire brigade advises.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
Tell him to have his infantry brigades press forward now with the utmost haste.
Iain Gale Man of Honour (2007)
We had to call the fire brigade.
The Sun (2013)
This is the message fire brigades should be putting out.
The Sun (2014)
Her partner had seen it happen and phoned her to help after first calling the fire brigade.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
They too reached for their mobile phones and called the fire brigade.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
The fire brigade put out the blaze.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
He was cut free by the fire brigade.
The Sun (2008)
The blazer brigade used to come into the dressing-room before the game.
Leo McKinstry Sir Alf: A Major Reappraisal of the Life and Times of England's Greatest FootballManager (2006)
Why not also have competing police forces, fire brigades or ambulance services?
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
Experts who unveiled it in Philadelphia hope it could also be used by fire brigades.
The Sun (2012)
Cue outrage from the usual brigade of consumer groups, who find it offensive that the energy companies dare to make a profit.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
What a sterile world it would be if the PC brigade had their way.
The Sun (2008)
A regular infantry brigade costs around 100 million a year.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
The PC brigade need to get a grip.
The Sun (2006)
It has also emerged that one brigade of US soldiers deployed only two months ago is going home early because of the lack of an agreement.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
In other languages
brigade
British English: brigade NOUN
A brigade is one of the groups which an army is divided into.
...the men of the Seventh Armoured Brigade.
American English: brigade
Brazilian Portuguese: brigada
Chinese: 旅
European Spanish: brigada
French: brigade
German: Brigade
Italian: brigata
Japanese: 軍隊編成の団体
Korean: 여단
European Portuguese: brigada
Latin American Spanish: brigada
All related terms of 'brigade'
fur brigade
(formerly) a convoy of canoes , horses, or dog sleighs that transported furs and other goods between trading posts and towns or factories
Boys' Brigade
(in Britain) an organization for boys , founded in 1883, with the aim of promoting discipline and self-respect
fire brigade
The fire brigade is an organization which has the job of putting out fires; used especially to refer to the people who actually fight the fires.
bucket brigade
a line of persons passing buckets of water along in trying to put out a fire
Girls' Brigade
(in Britain) an organization for girls , founded in 1893, with the aim of promoting self-discipline and self-respect
International Brigade
a military force that fought on the Republican side in the Spanish Civil War, consisting of volunteers ( predominantly socialists and communists ) from many countries
prawn-sandwich brigade
sports fans who are perceived to lack passion and commitment , and who it is supposed attend matches in order to eat food and buy merchandise rather than cheer on their team
St John Ambulance Brigade
an organization that provides first aid and first-aid training
Saint John Ambulance
an organization that provides first aid and first-aid training
1 (noun)
Definition
a military formation smaller than a division and usually commanded by a brigadier
the men of the Seventh Armoured Brigade
Synonyms
corps
an officer in the Army Medical Corps
company
The division consists of two tank companies and one infantry company.
force
a pan-European peace-keeping force
unit
a secret military unit
division
troop
She was aware of a little troop of travellers watching them.
squad
crew
The film crew spent nearly twelve weeks shooting in Thailand.
team
Mr Hunter and his management team
outfit (informal)
He works for a private security outfit.
regiment
...a regiment of hungry customers...
contingent
squadron
detachment
a detachment of marines
2 (noun)
Definition
a group of people organized for a certain task
the healthy-eating brigade
Synonyms
group
a small group of football supporters
party
a party of explorers
body
the police representative body
band
bands of government soldiers
camp
Voters have not yet moved en masse to the Conservative camp.
squad
The club is under investigation by the fraud squad.
organization
Most of the funds are provided by voluntary organizations.