'Brace' definitions:

Definition of 'brace'

(from WordNet)
noun
A support that steadies or strengthens something else; "he wore a brace on his knee"
noun
Two items of the same kind [syn: couple, pair, twosome, twain, brace, span, yoke, couplet, distich, duo, duet, dyad, duad]
noun
A set of two similar things considered as a unit [syn: pair, brace]
noun
Either of two punctuation marks ( or ) used to enclose textual material
noun
A rope on a square-rigged ship that is used to swing a yard about and secure it
noun
Elastic straps that hold trousers up (usually used in the plural) [syn: brace, suspender, gallus]
noun
An appliance that corrects dental irregularities [syn: brace, braces, orthodontic braces]
noun
A carpenter's tool having a crank handle for turning and a socket to hold a bit for boring [syn: brace, bitstock]
noun
A structural member used to stiffen a framework [syn: brace, bracing]
verb
Prepare (oneself) for something unpleasant or difficult [syn: brace, poise]
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" [syn: brace, steady, stabilize, stabilise]
verb
Support by bracing
verb
Cause to be alert and energetic; "Coffee and tea stimulate me"; "This herbal infusion doesn't stimulate" [syn: stimulate, arouse, brace, energize, energise, perk up] [ant: calm, de-energise, de-energize, sedate, tranquilize, tranquillise, tranquillize]

Definition of 'Brace'

From: GCIDE
  • Brace \Brace\, n. [OF. brace, brasse, the two arms, embrace, fathom, F. brasse fathom, fr. L. bracchia the arms (stretched out), pl. of bracchium arm; cf. Gr. ?.]
  • 1. That which holds anything tightly or supports it firmly; a bandage or a prop. [1913 Webster]
  • 2. A cord, ligament, or rod, for producing or maintaining tension, as a cord on the side of a drum. [1913 Webster]
  • The little bones of the ear drum do in straining and relaxing it as the braces of the war drum do in that. --Derham. [1913 Webster]
  • 3. The state of being braced or tight; tension. [1913 Webster]
  • The laxness of the tympanum, when it has lost its brace or tension. --Holder. [1913 Webster]
  • 4. (Arch. & Engin.) 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. [1913 Webster]
  • 5. (Print.) 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. [1913 Webster]
  • 6. (Naut.) A rope reeved through a block at the end of a yard, by which the yard is moved horizontally; also, a rudder gudgeon. [1913 Webster]
  • 7. (Mech.) A curved instrument or handle of iron or wood, for holding and turning bits, etc.; a bitstock. [1913 Webster]
  • 8. A pair; a couple; as, a brace of ducks; now rarely applied to persons, except familiarly or with some contempt. "A brace of greyhounds." --Shak. [1913 Webster]
  • He is said to have shot . . . fifty brace of pheasants. --Addison. [1913 Webster]
  • A brace of brethren, both bishops, both eminent for learning and religion, now appeared in the church. --Fuller. [1913 Webster]
  • But you, my brace of lords. --Shak. [1913 Webster]
  • 9. pl. Straps or bands to sustain trousers; suspenders. [1913 Webster]
  • I embroidered for you a beautiful pair of braces. --Thackeray. [1913 Webster]
  • 10. Harness; warlike preparation. [Obs.] [1913 Webster]
  • For that it stands not in such warlike brace. --Shak. [1913 Webster]
  • 11. Armor for the arm; vantbrace. [1913 Webster]
  • 12. (Mining) The mouth of a shaft. [Cornwall] [1913 Webster]
  • Angle brace. See under Angle. [1913 Webster]

Definition of 'Brace'

From: GCIDE
  • Brace \Brace\, v. i. To get tone or vigor; to rouse one's energies; -- with up. [Colloq.] [1913 Webster]

Definition of 'Brace'

From: GCIDE
  • Brace \Brace\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Braced; p. pr. & vb. n. Bracing.]
  • 1. To furnish with braces; to support; to prop; as, to brace a beam in a building. [1913 Webster]
  • 2. To draw tight; to tighten; to put in a state of tension; to strain; to strengthen; as, to brace the nerves. [1913 Webster]
  • And welcome war to brace her drums. --Campbell. [1913 Webster]
  • 3. To bind or tie closely; to fasten tightly. [1913 Webster]
  • The women of China, by bracing and binding them from their infancy, have very little feet. --Locke. [1913 Webster]
  • Some who spurs had first braced on. --Sir W. Scott. [1913 Webster]
  • 4. To place in a position for resisting pressure; to hold firmly; as, he braced himself against the crowd. [1913 Webster]
  • A sturdy lance in his right hand he braced. --Fairfax. [1913 Webster]
  • 5. (Naut.) To move around by means of braces; as, to brace the yards. [1913 Webster]
  • To brace about (Naut.), to turn (a yard) round for the contrary tack.
  • To brace a yard (Naut.), to move it horizontally by means of a brace.
  • To brace in (Naut.), to turn (a yard) by hauling in the weather brace.
  • To brace one's self, to call up one's energies. "He braced himself for an effort which he was little able to make." --J. D. Forbes.
  • To brace to (Naut.), to turn (a yard) by checking or easing off the lee brace, and hauling in the weather one, to assist in tacking.
  • To brace up (Naut.), to bring (a yard) nearer the direction of the keel by hauling in the lee brace.
  • To brace up sharp (Naut.), to turn (a yard) as far forward as the rigging will permit. [1913 Webster]

Synonyms of 'brace'

From: Moby Thesaurus

Words containing 'Brace'