Etymology

The Old English words "broad way" have been used to name wide roads and associated settlements for over a thousand years. Documented examples include Broadway, Somerset and Broadway, Worcestershire, England, which are listed in the Domesday Book census of 1086AD as "Bradewie" and "Bradeweia" respectively.

Proper noun

1. A street name found in a number of anglophone settlements, typically referring to a wide road; a broad way.
2. A settlement which grew up around such a road, eg. Broadway, Worcestershire, Broadway, Somerset.
3. Notably, in the Borough of Manhattan, in New York City, a wide road cutting a lazy diagonal through the otherwise rigid grid-system.
4. The theater district of Manhattan; specifically, those theaters (most of which are actually not fronting on Broadway) covered by contracts between the theater owners and the theatrical unions.
5. The American theater industry.
6. The highest straight in poker, Ace-King-Queen-Jack-Ten

Adjective

Broadway

1. Of or pertaining to Broadway theaters, to the shows performed there, or to persons associated with them, as with "Broadway star" or "Broadway producer".