braced; bracing
Definition of brace
(Entry 1 of 2)
b
: invigorate, freshen
… I took the shower and it braced me up a bit.— Raymond Chandler
c
: to prepare for use by making taut
brace a drum
2a
: to furnish or support with a brace (see brace entry 2 sense 1)
heavily braced against the wind
b
: to make stronger : reinforce
nerves … braced by long familiarity with danger— T. B. Macaulay
3
: to put or plant firmly
braces his foot in the stirrup
1
: to get ready (as for an attack)
brace for the storm
2
: to take heart
—used with up brace up and do something— Upton Sinclair
brace
noun
plural braces
Definition of brace (Entry 2 of 2)
1
: something that transmits, directs, resists, or supports weight or pressure: such as
a
: a diagonal piece of structural material that serves to strengthen something (such as a framework)
walls held up with braces
b
medical
: an appliance for supporting a body part
has braces on his legs a neck brace
c
braces plural, dentistry
: an orthodontic appliance usually of metallic wire that is used especially to exert pressure to straighten misaligned teeth
had braces as a teenager
e
nautical
: a rope rove through a block at the end of a ship's yard (see yard entry 4 sense 3) to swing it horizontally
2a
: one of two marks { } used to connect words or items to be considered together
b
music
: one of these marks connecting two or more musical staffs (see staff entry 1 sense 3) carrying parts to be performed simultaneously
c
: bracket sense 3a
numbers written in braces
4
: something (such as a clasp) that connects or fastens
5
: a crank-shaped instrument for turning a bit (see bit entry 1 sense 1a(2))
6
: a position of rigid attention
on review, his uniform and brace were technically correct — Time
7
: something that arouses energy or strengthens morale
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Merriam-Webster unabridged
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Time Traveler for brace
The first known use of brace was in the 14th century
See more words from the same century