brace Meaning & Definition
What Does Brace Mean?
Brace is used as a noun meaning A curved instrument or handle of iron or wood, for holding and turning bits, etc.; a bitstock. It can also mean That which holds anything tightly or supports it firmly; a bandage or a prop. As a verb, it means To prepare for something bad, such as an impact or blow.
Word Facts for Brace
| Part of speech | noun, verb |
|---|---|
| Pronunciation | //bɹeɪs// |
| Syllables | 1 |
| Synonyms | poise, stimulate and arouse |
| Antonyms | sedate, calm and tranquillize |
| Plural | braces |
| Verb forms | braces, bracing, braced |
Brace Definition (Noun)
- A curved instrument or handle of iron or wood, for holding and turning bits, etc.; a bitstock.
a brace and bit
- That which holds anything tightly or supports it firmly; a bandage or a prop.
- A cord, ligament, or rod, for producing or maintaining tension.
- A thong used to regulate the tension of a drum.
- The state of being braced or tight; tension.
- Harness; warlike preparation.
- A curved, pointed line, also known as "curly bracket": { or } connecting two or more words or lines, which are to be considered together, such as in {role, roll}; in music, used to connect staves.
- A pair, a couple; originally used of dogs, and later of animals generally (e.g., a brace of conies) and then other things, but rarely human persons.
- 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.
- A rope reeved through a block at the end of a yard, by which the yard is moved horizontally; also, a rudder gudgeon.
- The mouth of a shaft.
- Straps or bands to sustain trousers; suspenders.
- A system of wires, brackets, and elastic bands used to correct crooked teeth or to reduce overbite.
- Two goals scored by one player in a game.
- Two wickets taken with two consecutive deliveries.
- Armor for the arm; vambrace.
- A measurement of length, originally representing a person's outstretched arms.
Brace as a Verb
- To prepare for something bad, such as an impact or blow.
All hands, brace for impact!
- To place in a position for resisting pressure; to hold firmly.
He braced himself against the crowd.
- 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.
to brace the yards
- To stop someone for questioning, usually said of police.
- To confront with questions, demands or requests.
- To furnish with braces; to support; to prop.
to brace a beam in a building
- To draw tight; to tighten; to put in a state of tension; to strain; to strengthen.
to brace the nerves
- To bind or tie closely; to fasten tightly.
Noun
- A pair, a couple; originally used of dogs, and later of animals generally (e.g., a brace of conies) and then other things, but rarely human persons. (The plural in this sense is unchanged.) In British use (as plural), this is a particularly common reference to game birds.
- (chiefly in the plural) Straps or bands to sustain trousers; suspenders.
- (plural in North America, singular or plural in the UK) A system of wires, brackets, and elastic bands used to correct crooked teeth or to reduce overbite.
Synonyms of Brace
Antonyms of Brace
Brace in a Sentence
a brace and bit
All hands, brace for impact!
Brace yourself!
The boy has no idea about everything that's been going on. You need to brace him for what's about to happen.
He braced himself against the crowd.
She braced her back against the wall.
to brace the yards
to brace a beam in a building
to brace the nerves
Word Forms & Grammar
brace (plural braces)
brace (third-person singular simple present braces, present participle bracing, simple past and past participle braced)
Words That Rhyme With Brace
Origin of Brace
From Middle English brace, from Old French brace (“arm”), from Latin bracchia, the nominative and accusative plural of bracchium (“arm”).
Brace Pronunciation
Brace is pronounced //bɹeɪs// and has 1 syllable.
Quick Answers About Brace
Is brace a noun or a verb?
Brace is mainly used as a noun, but it can also be used as a verb.
What is another word for brace?
You can replace brace with words such as poise, stimulate and arouse. See the full list of brace synonyms and antonyms.
What is the opposite of brace?
Words opposite in meaning to brace are sedate, calm, tranquillize and tranquilize.
What is the plural of brace?
The plural of brace is braces.
What is the past tense of brace?
The past tense of brace is braced. The present participle is bracing.