Definitions for Bracebreɪs

Random House Webster's College Dictionary

bracebreɪs(n.; v.)braced, brac•ing.

(n.)something that holds parts together or in place, as a clasp or clamp.
anything that imparts rigidity or steadiness.
a device for holding and turning a bit for boring or drilling; bitstock.
Category: Building Trades, Machinery
a piece of timber, metal, etc., for supporting or positioning another part of a framework.
Category: Building Trades
(on a square-rigged ship) a rope by which a yard is swung about and secured horizontally.
Category: Nautical, Navy
Usu., braces. an oral appliance consisting generally of wires or bands, used to correct misalignment of the teeth and jaws by exerting pressure on the teeth and their supporting structures.
Category: Dentistry
an orthopedic appliance for supporting a weak joint or joints.
Category: Surgery
braces, Chiefly Brit.
Category: British, Clothing
Ref: suspender (def. 1). 1
a pair; couple:
a brace of grouse.
one of two characters {or} used to enclose words or lines to be considered together.
Category: Printing
Ref: bracket (def. 4). 3
a printed brace connecting musical staves.
Category: Music and Dance
a protective band for the wrist or lower arm, esp. a bracer.
Mil. a position of attention with exaggeratedly stiff posture.
Category: Military
(v.t.)to furnish, fasten, or strengthen with or as if with a brace.
to steady (oneself), as against a shock.
to make tight; increase the tension of.
to act as a stimulant to.
to swing or turn around (the yards of a ship) by means of the braces.
Category: Nautical, Navy
brace up,Informal. to summon up one's courage; become resolute.
Category: Informal, Verb Phrase

Origin of brace:

1300–50; ME < AF, OF: pair of arms < L brācchia, pl. of brācchium arm < Gk; see brachium

Princeton's WordNet

brace(noun)
a support that steadies or strengthens something else
"he wore a brace on his knee"
couple, pair, twosome, twain, brace, span, yoke, couplet, distich, duo, duet, dyad, duad(noun)
two items of the same kind
pair, brace(noun)
a set of two similar things considered as a unit
brace(noun)
either of two punctuation marks ({ or }) used to enclose textual material
brace(noun)
a rope on a square-rigged ship that is used to swing a yard about and secure it
brace, suspender, gallus(noun)
elastic straps that hold trousers up (usually used in the plural)
brace, braces, orthodontic braces(noun)
an appliance that corrects dental irregularities
brace, bitstock(noun)
a carpenter's tool having a crank handle for turning and a socket to hold a bit for boring
brace, bracing(verb)
a structural member used to stiffen a framework
brace, poise(verb)
prepare (oneself) for something unpleasant or difficult
brace, steady, stabilize, stabilise(verb)
support or hold steady and make steadfast, with or as if with a brace
"brace your elbows while working on the potter's wheel"
brace(verb)
support by bracing
stimulate, arouse, brace, energize, energise, perk up(verb)
cause to be alert and energetic
"Coffee and tea stimulate me"; "This herbal infusion doesn't stimulate"

Kernerman English Learner's Dictionary

brace(noun)ɪs
an object used to hold sth in place
***a brace for the porch roof
braceɪs
a metal device used to make the teeth straight
braceɪs
straps to hold up pants
braceɪs
braces for teeth
***He'll have to have a brace.
brace(verb)ɪs
to make yourself ready for sth unpleasant
He braced himself for the pain.

Wiktionary

brace(Noun)
Armor for the arm; vambrace.
brace(Noun)
A measurement of length, originally representing a person's outstretched arms.
brace(Noun)
A curved instrument or handle of iron or wood, for holding and turning bits, etc.; a bitstock.
brace(Noun)
That which holds anything tightly or supports it firmly; a bandage or a prop.
brace(Noun)
A cord, ligament, or rod, for producing or maintaining tension
brace(Noun)
A thong used to regulate the tension of a drum.
brace(Noun)
A vertical curved line or "curly bracket": { or } connecting two or more words or lines, which are to be considered together, such as in ; or, in music, used to connect staves.
brace(Noun)
A pair, a couple; originally used of dogs, and later of animals generally and then other things, but rarely human persons. (The plural in this sense is unchanged.) In use (as ), this is a particularly common reference to game birds.
brace(Noun)
A piece of material used to transmit, or change the direction of, weight or pressure; any one of the pieces, in a frame or truss, which divide the structure into triangular parts. It may act as a tie, or as a strut, and serves to prevent distortion of the structure, and transverse strains in its members. A boiler brace is a diagonal stay, connecting the head with the shell.
brace(Verb)
To prepare for something bad, as an impact or blow. All hands, brace for impact!
brace(Verb)
To swing round the yards of a square rigged ship, using braces, to present a more efficient sail surface to the direction of the wind
brace(Verb)
To stop someone for questioning, usually said of police
brace(Verb)
To confront with questions, demands or requests
brace(Noun)
A rope reeved through a block at the end of a yard, by which the yard is moved horizontally; also, a rudder gudgeon.
brace(Noun)
The mouth of a shaft.
brace(Noun)
(usually plural) Straps or bands to sustain trousers; suspenders.
brace(Noun)
(usually plural) A system of wires, brackets, and elastic bands used to correct crooked teeth or to reduce overbite.
brace(Noun)
Two goals scored by one player in a game.

Origin: From brace, from bracchia, the

Webster Dictionary

Brace(noun)
that which holds anything tightly or supports it firmly; a bandage or a prop
Brace(noun)
a cord, ligament, or rod, for producing or maintaining tension, as a cord on the side of a drum
Brace(noun)
the state of being braced or tight; tension
Brace(noun)
a piece of material used to transmit, or change the direction of, weight or pressure; any one of the pieces, in a frame or truss, which divide the structure into triangular parts. It may act as a tie, or as a strut, and serves to prevent distortion of the structure, and transverse strains in its members. A boiler brace is a diagonal stay, connecting the head with the shell
Brace(noun)
a vertical curved line connecting two or more words or lines, which are to be taken together; thus, boll, bowl; or, in music, used to connect staves
Brace(noun)
a rope reeved through a block at the end of a yard, by which the yard is moved horizontally; also, a rudder gudgeon
Brace(noun)
a curved instrument or handle of iron or wood, for holding and turning bits, etc.; a bitstock
Brace(noun)
a pair; a couple; as, a brace of ducks; now rarely applied to persons, except familiarly or with some contempt
Brace(noun)
straps or bands to sustain trousers; suspenders
Brace(noun)
harness; warlike preparation
Brace(noun)
armor for the arm; vantbrace
Brace(noun)
the mouth of a shaft
Brace(verb)
to furnish with braces; to support; to prop; as, to brace a beam in a building
Brace(verb)
to draw tight; to tighten; to put in a state of tension; to strain; to strengthen; as, to brace the nerves
Brace(verb)
to bind or tie closely; to fasten tightly
Brace(verb)
to place in a position for resisting pressure; to hold firmly; as, he braced himself against the crowd
Brace(verb)
to move around by means of braces; as, to brace the yards
Brace(verb)
to get tone or vigor; to rouse one's energies; -- with up