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brace
brace / brās/ • n. 1. a device that clamps things tightly together or that gives support, in particular: ∎ a device fitted to a weak or injured neck, leg, or other part of the body for support. ∎ (braces) a wire device fitted in the mouth to straighten the teeth. ∎ a strengthening piece of iron or timber used in building and carpentry. ∎ a tool in carpentry having a crank handle and a socket to hold a bit for boring. ∎ a rope leading aft from each yardarm, used for trimming the sail. ∎ (braces) British term for suspenders. 2. either of the two marks { and }, used either to indicate that two or more items on one side have the same relationship as each other to the single item to which the other side points, or in pairs to show that words between them are connected. ∎ Mus. a similar mark connecting staves to be performed at the same time. • v. [tr.] make (a structure) stronger or firmer with wood, iron, or other forms of support: the posts were braced by lengths of timber. ∎ press (one's body or part of one's body) firmly against something in order to stay balanced: she braced her feet against a projecting shelf. ∎ prepare (someone or oneself) for something difficult or unpleasant: both stations are bracing themselves for job losses. ORIGIN: Middle English (as a verb meaning ‘clasp, fasten tightly’): from Old French bracier ‘embrace,’ from brace ‘two arms,’ from Latin bracchia, plural of bracchium ‘arm,’ from Greek brakhiōn. |
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"brace." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. 11 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "brace." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. (February 11, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-brace.html "brace." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Retrieved February 11, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-brace.html |
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Brace
Bracea pair; a couple, originally of dogs, rarely used for people; a coat of armour. See also cast, yoke. Examples: brace of bishops; of brethren, 1655; of bucks; of bullets, 1725; of chambers [rooms], 1642; of deer, 1570; of ducks; of dukes, 1768; of fish, 1867; of foxes; of game, 1751; of geldings, 1651; of orthopaedists—Mensa; of partridge, 1741; of pheasants; of pike; of pistols, 1832; of trout, 1715; of wives, 1606. |
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"Brace." Dictionary of Collective Nouns and Group Terms. 1985. Encyclopedia.com. 11 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "Brace." Dictionary of Collective Nouns and Group Terms. 1985. Encyclopedia.com. (February 11, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G2-2505300161.html "Brace." Dictionary of Collective Nouns and Group Terms. 1985. Retrieved February 11, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G2-2505300161.html |
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brace
brace1 †guard for the arm XIV; pair, couple XV; clasp, strap XIV; (archit.) strengthening band; carpenter's tool to hold a bit XVI; (typogr.) bracket XVII. — OF. brace two arms or their extent (mod. brasse fathom) :- L. bracchia, pl. of bracchium arm (whence F. bras) — Gr. brakhíōn. Some senses depend upon BRACE2.
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T. F. HOAD. "brace." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. 11 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. T. F. HOAD. "brace." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. (February 11, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-brace.html T. F. HOAD. "brace." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Retrieved February 11, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-brace.html |
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brace
brace.
1. Subsidiary structural timber, curved or straight, placed at an angle between vertical and horizontal members to complete a triangle and thus stiffen a timber frame. If supporting a rafter, it is called a strut. See truss. 2. See bracket-moulding. |
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JAMES STEVENS CURL. "brace." A Dictionary of Architecture and Landscape Architecture. 2000. Encyclopedia.com. 11 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. JAMES STEVENS CURL. "brace." A Dictionary of Architecture and Landscape Architecture. 2000. Encyclopedia.com. (February 11, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O1-brace.html JAMES STEVENS CURL. "brace." A Dictionary of Architecture and Landscape Architecture. 2000. Retrieved February 11, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O1-brace.html |
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brace
brace n.a device that clamps things tightly together or that gives support, especially a rope attached to the yard of a ship for trimming the sail.
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"brace." The Oxford Essential Dictionary of the U.S. Military. 2001. Encyclopedia.com. 11 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "brace." The Oxford Essential Dictionary of the U.S. Military. 2001. Encyclopedia.com. (February 11, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O63-brace.html "brace." The Oxford Essential Dictionary of the U.S. Military. 2001. Retrieved February 11, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O63-brace.html |
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brace
brace2 †embrace, gird XIV; make tense or firm XV. — OF. bracier embrace, f. brace (see prec.); the later sense is direct from the sb.
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Cite this article
T. F. HOAD. "brace." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. 11 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. T. F. HOAD. "brace." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. (February 11, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-brace1.html T. F. HOAD. "brace." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Retrieved February 11, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-brace1.html |
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brace
brace. Perpendicular line, with bracket, joining the staves in scores, and indicating that mus. on these staves should be played simultaneously.
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MICHAEL KENNEDY and JOYCE BOURNE. "brace." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Music. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. 11 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. MICHAEL KENNEDY and JOYCE BOURNE. "brace." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Music. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. (February 11, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O76-brace.html MICHAEL KENNEDY and JOYCE BOURNE. "brace." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Music. 1996. Retrieved February 11, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O76-brace.html |
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brace
brace see drill . |
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"brace." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2008. Encyclopedia.com. 11 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "brace." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2008. Encyclopedia.com. (February 11, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-X-brace.html "brace." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2008. Retrieved February 11, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-X-brace.html |
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brace
brace
•abase, ace, apace, backspace, base, bass, brace, case, chase, dace, efface, embrace, encase, enchase, enlace, face, grace, interlace, interspace, in-your-face, lace, mace, misplace, outface, outpace, pace, place, plaice, race, space, Thrace, trace, upper case
•airbase • freebase • wheelbase
•database • steeplechase • paperchase
•paleface • typeface • whiteface
•boldface • coalface • interface
•staircase • briefcase • slipcase
•packing case • doorcase • showcase
•notecase • pillowcase • suitcase
•bookcase • nutcase • marketplace
•anyplace • everyplace • showplace
•shoelace • bootlace • someplace
•Lovelace • fireplace • commonplace
•workplace • birthplace • tenace
•airspace • aerospace • hyperspace
•carapace • workspace • ratrace
•millrace • Fuentes • rosace
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"brace." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. 11 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "brace." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. (February 11, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-brace.html "brace." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Retrieved February 11, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-brace.html |
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