BRACE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does brace mean? 

• BRACE (noun)
  The noun BRACE has 9 senses:

1. a support that steadies or strengthens something else

2. two items of the same kind

3. a set of two similar things considered as a unit

4. either of two punctuation marks ({ or }) used to enclose textual material

5. a rope on a square-rigged ship that is used to swing a yard about and secure it

6. elastic straps that hold trousers up (usually used in the plural)

7. an appliance that corrects dental irregularities

8. a carpenter's tool having a crank handle for turning and a socket to hold a bit for boring

9. a structural member used to stiffen a framework

  Familiarity information: BRACE used as a noun is familiar.

• BRACE (verb)
  The verb BRACE has 4 senses:

1. prepare (oneself) for something unpleasant or difficult

2. support or hold steady and make steadfast, with or as if with a brace

3. support by bracing

4. cause to be alert and energetic

  Familiarity information: BRACE used as a verb is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• BRACE (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A support that steadies or strengthens something else

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Context example:

he wore a brace on his knee

Hypernyms ("brace" is a kind of...):

reinforcement; strengthener (a device designed to provide additional strength)

support (any device that bears the weight of another thing)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "brace"):

neck brace (a brace worn to steady the neck)

skeg (a brace that extends from the rear of the keel to support the rudderpost)

knee brace (a brace worn to strengthen the knee)

back brace (a brace worn to support the back)

ankle brace (a brace worn to strengthen the ankle)

Derivation:

brace (support by bracing)

brace (support or hold steady and make steadfast, with or as if with a brace)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Two items of the same kind

Classified under:

Nouns denoting quantities and units of measure

Synonyms:

brace; couple; couplet; distich; duad; duet; duo; dyad; pair; span; twain; twosome; yoke

Hypernyms ("brace" is a kind of...):

2; deuce; II; two (the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number)

Meronyms (parts of "brace"):

fellow; mate (one of a pair)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "brace"):

doubleton ((bridge) a pair of playing cards that are the only cards in their suit in the hand dealt to a player)

Sense 3

Meaning:

A set of two similar things considered as a unit

Classified under:

Nouns denoting groupings of people or objects

Synonyms:

brace; pair

Hypernyms ("brace" is a kind of...):

set (a group of things of the same kind that belong together and are so used)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "brace"):

Tweedledee and Tweedledum; Tweedledum and Tweedledee (any two people who are hard to tell apart)

Sense 4

Meaning:

Either of two punctuation marks ({ or }) used to enclose textual material

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Hypernyms ("brace" is a kind of...):

punctuation; punctuation mark (the marks used to clarify meaning by indicating separation of words into sentences and clauses and phrases)

Sense 5

Meaning:

A rope on a square-rigged ship that is used to swing a yard about and secure it

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Hypernyms ("brace" is a kind of...):

rope (a strong line)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "brace"):

royal brace (a brace to secure the royal mast)

Sense 6

Meaning:

Elastic straps that hold trousers up (usually used in the plural)

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Synonyms:

brace; gallus; suspender

Hypernyms ("brace" is a kind of...):

man's clothing (clothing that is designed for men to wear)

Meronyms (parts of "brace"):

shoulder strap; strap (a band that goes over the shoulder and supports a garment or bag)

Domain usage:

plural; plural form (the form of a word that is used to denote more than one)

Sense 7

Meaning:

An appliance that corrects dental irregularities

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Synonyms:

brace; braces; orthodontic braces

Hypernyms ("brace" is a kind of...):

dental appliance (a device to repair teeth or replace missing teeth)

Sense 8

Meaning:

A carpenter's tool having a crank handle for turning and a socket to hold a bit for boring

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Synonyms:

bitstock; brace

Hypernyms ("brace" is a kind of...):

stock (the handle end of some implements or tools)

Holonyms ("brace" is a part of...):

brace and bit (a drill consisting of a bit and a brace to hold and turn it)

Sense 9

Meaning:

A structural member used to stiffen a framework

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Synonyms:

brace; bracing

Hypernyms ("brace" is a kind of...):

reinforcement; strengthener (a device designed to provide additional strength)

structural member (support that is a constituent part of any structure or building)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "brace"):

gusset; gusset plate (a metal plate used to strengthen a joist)

guy; guy cable; guy rope; guy wire (a cable, wire, or rope that is used to brace something (especially a tent))

stay ((nautical) brace consisting of a heavy rope or wire cable used as a support for a mast or spar)

stringer (brace consisting of a longitudinal member to strengthen a fuselage or hull)

strut (brace consisting of a bar or rod used to resist longitudinal compression)

crosstie; railroad tie; sleeper; tie (one of the cross braces that support the rails on a railway track)

crosspiece (a transverse brace)

Holonyms ("brace" is a part of...):

frame; framework (a structure supporting or containing something)

Derivation:

brace (support by bracing)

• BRACE (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they brace    ... he / she / it braces   
Past simple: braced   
Past participle: braced   
-ing form: bracing   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Prepare (oneself) for something unpleasant or difficult

Classified under:

Verbs of feeling

Synonyms:

brace; poise

Hypernyms (to "brace" is one way to...):

fix; gear up; prepare; ready; set; set up (make ready or suitable or equip in advance for a particular purpose or for some use, event, etc)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "brace"):

nerve; steel (get ready for something difficult or unpleasant)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s somebody

Sense 2

Meaning:

Support or hold steady and make steadfast, with or as if with a brace

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Synonyms:

brace; stabilise; stabilize; steady

Context example:

brace your elbows while working on the potter's wheel

Hypernyms (to "brace" is one way to...):

beef up; fortify; strengthen (make strong or stronger)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "brace"):

ballast (make steady with a ballast)

guy (steady or support with a guy wire or cable)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s something

Derivation:

brace (a support that steadies or strengthens something else)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Support by bracing

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Hypernyms (to "brace" is one way to...):

hold; hold up; support; sustain (be the physical support of; carry the weight of)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "brace"):

tread (brace (an archer's bow) by pressing the foot against the center)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something

Derivation:

brace (a structural member used to stiffen a framework)

brace (a support that steadies or strengthens something else)

bracing (a structural member used to stiffen a framework)

Sense 4

Meaning:

Cause to be alert and energetic

Classified under:

Verbs of grooming, dressing and bodily care

Synonyms:

arouse; brace; energise; energize; perk up; stimulate

Context example:

This herbal infusion doesn't stimulate

Hypernyms (to "brace" is one way to...):

affect (act physically on; have an effect upon)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "brace"):

cathect (inject with libidinal energy)

animate; quicken; reanimate; recreate; renovate; repair; revive; revivify; vivify (give new life or energy to)

invigorate; reinvigorate (impart vigor, strength, or vitality to)

animate; enliven; invigorate; liven; liven up (make lively)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s
Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s somebody
Something ----s something

Derivation:

bracer (a tonic or restorative (especially a drink of liquor))

 Context examples 

“Then must I hew a passage,” cried the stranger, with his shoulder braced round and his hand upon his hilt.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

The frail figure stiffened itself, as though he were visibly bracing himself for an effort.

(Rodney Stone, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

You will have to brace for a sudden problem, as all of us do, with each sign feeling this in different ways.

(AstrologyZone.com, by Susan Miller)

A coat and waistcoat were lying on the floor, and from a hook behind the door, with his own braces round his neck, was hanging the managing director of the Franco-Midland Hardware Company.

(The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

That evening found us in the cold, bracing atmosphere of the Peak country, in which Dr. Huxtable’s famous school is situated.

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

There were a couple of brace of cold woodcock, a pheasant, a pâté de foie gras pie with a group of ancient and cobwebby bottles.

(The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Treatment includes medicines, braces, and physical, occupational and speech therapy.

(Cerebral Palsy, NIH: National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke)

Physical therapy, occupational therapy, braces and other devices and sometimes surgery can help.

(Charcot-Marie-Tooth Disease, NIH: National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke)

Treatments include exercise, pain medicine, physical therapy, wheelchairs, braces, and surgery.

(Osteogenesis Imperfecta, NIH: National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases)

“Mr. Hands,” he said, “here are two of us with a brace of pistols each. If any one of you six make a signal of any description, that man's dead.”

(Treasure Island, by Robert Louis Stevenson)