bruik

Bruik is a Dutch noun that denotes the practical use, value, or utility of something. In contemporary standard Dutch, bruik is relatively uncommon as a standalone term; it is more often found in fixed expressions, formal or historical contexts, or within compound forms such as bruikbaar (usable) and bruikbaarheid (usability). The sense of bruik overlaps with but is more formal or technical than that of gebruik, which is the everyday noun for “use.”

Etymology and related terms: Bruik is historically linked to earlier Dutch forms tied to the notion of using or applying something. It is the base in compounds that describe the potential or capacity of something to be used, such as bruikbaar and bruikbaarheid. Related concepts include nut (benefit), toepassing (application), and gebruik (use).

Usage and context: Modern Dutch typically prefers gebruik for the ordinary act of using or employing something. Bruik tends to appear in technical, legal, or historical language, and in compound terms that emphasize usability or value rather than the act itself. Because bruik is less common in everyday speech, it is often encountered primarily in specialized documentation, older literature, or in discussions of terminology.

See also: Gebruik, Bruikbaar, Bruikbaarheid, Nut, Toepassing.

Notes: This article treats bruik as a distinct, though less common, lexical item in Dutch. For clearer expression in everyday language, gebruik is generally preferred.