boast1

[bohst] /boʊst/
verb (used without object)
1.
to speak with exaggeration and excessive pride, especially about oneself.
2.
to speak with pride (often followed by of):
He boasted of his family's wealth.
verb (used with object)
3.
to speak of with excessive pride or vanity:
He boasts himself a genius.
4.
to be proud in the possession of:
The town boasts a new school.
noun
5.
a thing boasted of; a cause for pride:
Talent is his boast. It is her boast that she has never betrayed a friend.
6.
exaggerated or objectionable speech; bragging:
empty boasts and threats.
Origin
1250-1300; Middle English bost (noun), bosten (v.), of uncertain origin
Related forms
boastingly, adverb
boastless, adjective
Synonyms
1, 2. Boast, brag imply vocal self-praise or claims to superiority over others. Boast usually refers to a particular ability, possession, etc., that may be one of such kind as to justify a good deal of pride: He boasts of his ability as a singer. Brag, a more colloquial term, usually suggests a more ostentatious and exaggerated boasting but less well-founded: He brags loudly of his marksmanship.

boast2

[bohst] /boʊst/
verb (used with object), Masonry.
1.
to dress or shape (stone) roughly.
Origin
1815-25; of uncertain origin
Examples from the web for boast
  • It may boast liquid water, organic molecules, and a source of energy to drive chemical processes.
  • Some tips to conserve water and yet boast of a thriving garden.
  • I'm not sure that's something to boast about.
  • He was considered to be a great natural player; he used to boast that he never read a chess book.
  • Reading these comments is like watching 2 kids on the playground boast about who's daddy could kick the other's dad's bottom.
  • You boast yourself handy.
  • Several wineries boast the use of solar panels, biodiesel-fueled tractors and organic farming practices.
  • In a city that does not do much bragging, the mighty brewery has long been a reason to boast.
  • The plane will boast a wingspan longer than a football field.
  • More expensive slow cookers boast metal pots, which are much lighter and often clean up better, thanks to nonstick coatings.
British Dictionary definitions for boast

boast1

/bəʊst/
verb
1.
(intransitive; sometimes foll by of or about) to speak in exaggerated or excessively proud terms of one's possessions, skills, or superior qualities; brag
2.
(transitive) to possess (something to be proud of): the city boasts a fine cathedral
noun
3.
a bragging statement
4.
a possession, attribute, attainment, etc, that is or may be bragged about
Derived Forms
boaster, noun
boasting, noun, adjective
boastingly, adverb
Word Origin
C13: of uncertain origin

boast2

/bəʊst/
verb
1.
(transitive) to shape or dress (stone) roughly with a broad chisel
Word Origin
C19: of unknown origin

boast3

/bəʊst/
noun
1.
a stroke in which the ball is hit on to one of the side walls before hitting the front wall
verb
2.
to hit (the ball) in this way or make such a stroke
Derived Forms
boasted, adjective
Word Origin
C19: perhaps from French bosse the place where the ball hits the wall
Word Origin and History for boast
n.

mid-13c., "arrogance, presumption, pride, vanity;" c.1300, "a brag, boastful speech," from Anglo-French bost "ostentation," probably via Scandinavian (cf. Norwegian baus "proud, bold, daring"), from Proto-Germanic *bausia "to blow up, puff up, swell" (cf. Middle High German bus "swelling," dialectal German baustern "to swell;" Middle Dutch bose, Dutch boos "evil, wicked, angry," Old High German bosi "worthless, slanderous," German böse "evil, bad, angry"), from PIE *bhou-, variant of root *beu-, *bheu- "to grow, swell" (see bull (n.2)).

The notion apparently is of being "puffed up" with pride; cf. Old English belgan "to become angry, offend, provoke," belg "anger, arrogance," from the same root as bellows and belly (n.). Related: Boasted; boasting. An Old English word for "boasting" was micelsprecende, "big talk."

v.

early 14c., "to brag, speak arrogantly;" from the same source as boast (n.). Related: Boasted; boasting.