brace (braces plural & 3rd person present) (bracing present participle) (braced past tense & past participle )
1 verb If you braceyourself for something unpleasant or difficult, you prepare yourself for it.
He braced himself for the icy plunge into the black water... V pron-refl for n
She braced herself, as if to meet a blow. V pron-refl
2 verb If you braceyourselfagainst something or brace part of your body against it, you press against something in order to steady your body or to avoid falling.
Elaine braced herself against the dresser and looked in the mirror... V pron-refl against n
He braced his back against the wall. V n against n
3 verb If you brace your shoulders or knees, you keep them stiffly in a particular position.
He braced his shoulders as the snow slashed across his face. V n
4 verb To brace something means to strengthen or support it with something else.
Overhead, the lights showed the old timbers, used to brace the roof. V n
5 n-count You can refer to two things of the same kind as a braceof that thing. The plural form is also brace.
usu N of n
...a brace of bottles of Mercier Rose champagne., ...a few brace of grouse.
6 n-count A brace is a device attached to a part of a person's body, for example to a weak leg, in order to strengthen or support it.
oft n N
(=support)
She wears a neck brace.
7 n-count A brace is a metal device that can be fastened to a child's teeth in order to help them grow straight.
8 n-plural Braces are a pair of straps that pass over your shoulders and fasten to your trousers at the front and back in order to stop them from falling down.
(BRIT)
in AM, use suspenders
9 n-count Braces or curly braces are a pair of written marks that you place around words, numbers, or parts of a computer code, for example to indicate that they are connected in some way or are separate from other parts of the writing or code.
(AM)
in BRIT, usually use curly brackets
