broaching

Opening for discussion

Broaching is the present participle of broach, which means to bring up a subject for discussion, especially one that may be sensitive or difficult: She finally broached the topic of moving in together.

The word suggests initiating a conversation that requires some delicacy or courage.

Broach also has a technical sense in brewing, meaning to pierce a cask to draw off liquid, and in metalworking, where a broach is a cutting tool used to shape holes.

piercing

tapping

Repeated light striking

puncturingMaking holes by piercing
openingGap or start
drillingHole-making by rotation

boring · perforating · penetrating · breaking into · uncorking · spigot · cask · barrel · keg · wine

introducing

raising

Lifting or nurturing

mentioningReferring to briefly
bringing upIntroducing into discussion
addressingSpeaking to or handling

approaching · presenting · suggesting · opening up · proposing · airing · venturing · floating · discussing · initiating

metalworking

cutting

Dividing via sharp edge

machiningSubtractive metalworking process
boringFailing to engage interest
shapingGiving something its form

milling · tooling · slotting · keyway · spline · gear · teeth · cutter · tool · lathe

Categories

machininglathe, milling, boring, grinding, turning
ship motionroll, pitch, pitching, yaw, yawing
slottingmortising, notching, milling, planogram, product placement
highlightingemphasizing, stressing, underscoring, accenting, accentuating
piercingpierce, piercing, puncture, puncturing, stab
guidingadvising, directing, guiding, instructing, leading

Opposites

initiating discussion

broachingavoiding

Deliberately staying clear

dodging · evading · skirting · sidestepping · suppressing

OPENING/PIERCING (physical)

broachingsealing

Making impermeable

closing · corking · plugging · capping · stopping up

Family

breach, broach, breached, breaches, breaching, broached, broaches

Familiarity: Top 200,000
Profile: Used worldwide · Timeless · Everyday, not technical · Rated G