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The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 (gcide)

Brute \Brute\, a. [F. brut, nasc., brute, fem., raw, rough,
rude, brutish, L. brutus stupid, irrational: cf. It. & Sp.
bruto.]
1. Not having sensation; senseless; inanimate; unconscious;
without intelligence or volition; as, the brute earth; the
brute powers of nature.
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2. Not possessing reason, irrational; unthinking; as, a brute
beast; the brute creation.
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A creature . . . not prone
And brute as other creatures, but endued
With sanctity of reason. --Milton.
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3. Of, pertaining to, or characteristic of, a brute beast.
Hence: Brutal; cruel; fierce; ferocious; savage; pitiless;
as, brute violence. --Macaulay.
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The influence of capital and mere brute labor.
--Playfair.
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4. Having the physical powers predominating over the mental;
coarse; unpolished; unintelligent.
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A great brute farmer from Liddesdale. --Sir W.
Scott.
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5. Rough; uncivilized; unfeeling. [R.]
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{brute force}, The application of predominantly physical
effort to achieve a goal that could be accomplished with
less effort if more carefully considered. Figuratively,
repetitive or strenuous application of an obvious or
simple tactic, as contrasted with a more clever stratagem
achieving the same goal with less effort; -- as, the first
prime numbers were discovered by the brute force
repetition of the {Sieve of Eratosthenes}.
[PJC]


Brute \Brute\, v. t. [For bruit.]
To report; to bruit. [Obs.]
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Brute \Brute\, n.
1. An animal destitute of human reason; any animal not human;
esp. a quadruped; a beast.
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Brutes may be considered as either a["e]rial,
terrestrial, aquatic, or amphibious. --Locke.
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2. A brutal person; a savage in heart or manners; as
unfeeling or coarse person.
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An ill-natured brute of a husband. --Franklin.
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Syn: See {Beast}.
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