brace

1 of 2

verb

ˈbrās 

braced; bracing

transitive verb

1

a

: prepare, steel

brace yourself for the shock

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

2

a

: 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

4

nautical : to turn (a sail yard) by means of a brace (see brace entry 2 sense 1e)

5

: to waylay especially with demands or questions : confront

when braced, Willie had naturally denied his identity

—Time

6

archaic : to fasten tightly : bind

intransitive verb

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

2 of 2

noun

plural braces

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

d

British braces plural, clothing : suspenders

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

2

a

: 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

3

or plural brace : two of a kind : pair

several brace of quail

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

Synonyms

Verb

• amp (up)
• animate
• energize
• enliven
• fillip
• fire
• ginger (up)
• invigorate
• jazz (up)
• juice up
• jump-start
• liven (up)
• pep (up)
• quicken
• spike
• stimulate
• vitalize
• vivify
• zip (up)

Noun

• buttress
• mount
• mounting
• prop
• reinforcement
• shore
• spur
• stay
• support
• underpinning

Examples of brace in a Sentence

Verb

He braced the gate with a piece of wood.

Steel columns brace the structure.

She braced herself with one hand and reached up with the other.

Noun

We need to add some sort of brace to hold the shelf in place.

He could walk with braces on his legs.

She wears a back brace.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

This leads to an honest and bracing conversation about the nature of addiction. —Noel Murray, Vulture, 7 Nov. 2024

Related Articles Putin congratulates Donald Trump on his election victory in first public comments on US vote China is bracing for fresh tensions with Trump over trade, tech and Taiwan For many Iranians, Trump’s return intensifies worries about war. —Nollyanne Delacruz, The Mercury News, 5 Nov. 2024

Noun

And this risk is much higher for people who had braces or Invisalign: Research shows that teeth naturally want to revert to their old positions after orthodontic treatment. —Jenna Ryu, SELF, 29 Oct. 2024

There are a few dozen rose bushes, various other perennial flowers, and a brace of fruit trees: the six apples, two plums (Santa Rosa and European prune), a persimmon (Hachiya), and a multi-graft Asian pear whose branches the local raccoons keep breaking in their nightly revelry. —Manjula Martin, The New Yorker, 28 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English, from Anglo-French bracer to embrace, from brace

Noun

Middle English, clasp, pair, from Anglo-French, pair of arms, pair, support, from Latin bracchia, plural of bracchium arm, from Greek brachiōn, from comparative of brachys short — more at brief

First Known Use

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 6

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 4

Phrases Containing brace

• brace root
• brace yourself
• curly brace
• halo brace

Kids Definition

brace

1 of 2 verb

ˈbrās 

braced; bracing

1

a

: to make firm or tight

b

: to get ready : prepare

braced herself for the test

2

: to furnish or support with a brace

3

: to give life or energy to : freshen

4

: to place firmly

5

: to regain one's courage

brace up, all is not lost

brace

2 of 2 noun

plural braces or brace

1

: two of a kind : pair

several brace of quail

2

: something that connects, fastens, or tightens

3

: a tool with a U-shaped bend that is used to turn wood-boring bits

4

a

: something that transfers, resists, or supports weight or pressure

especially : a slanted timber used as a support in a structure

b

plural : suspender sense 2

c

: a device for supporting a body part (as the shoulders)

d

plural : a usually wire device attached to the teeth to make them straight and pull them into position

5

a

: a mark { or } used to connect words or items or musical staffs that are to be considered together

b

: one of a pair of such marks enclosing words or symbols

Etymology

Verb

Middle English bracen "to fasten, bind," from early French bracer "to embrace," from brace "pair of arms," derived from Latin bracchium "arm" — related to bracelet, brassiere, embrace see Word History at embrace

Noun

Middle English brace "pair, clasp," from early French brace "pair of arms," derived from Latin bracchium "arm" — related to pretzel see Word History at pretzel

Medical Definition

brace

1 of 2 noun

ˈbrās 

1

: an appliance that gives support to movable parts (as a joint or a fractured bone), to weak muscles (as in paralysis), or to strained ligaments (as of the lower back)

2

braces plural : an orthodontic appliance usually of metallic wire that is used especially to exert pressure to straighten misaligned teeth and that is not removable by the patient

brace

2 of 2 transitive verb

braced; bracing

: to furnish or support with a brace