BRACES
brace, braces, orthodontic braces
(noun) an appliance that corrects dental irregularities
Source: WordNet® 3.1
Noun
braces
plural of brace
(orthodontics) A device worn on the teeth to straighten them.
(dated) Handcuffs.
(British) A pair of straps crossing one's shoulders and extending down to one's trousers, where a clip or button arrangement allows them to affix to the trousers, ensuring that they will not fall off (US: suspenders).
Synonyms
• (orthodontics): dental braces
• (handcuffs): manacles
• (pair of straps holding trousers): suspenders
Verb
braces
Third-person singular simple present indicative form of brace
Anagrams
• cabers, cabres
Proper noun
Braces
plural of Brace
Anagrams
• cabers, cabres
Source: Wiktionary
BRACE
Brace, n. Etym: [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.
2. A cord, ligament, or rod, for producing or maintaining tension, as
a cord on the side of a drum.
The little bones of the ear drum do in straining and relaxing it as
the braces of the war drum do in that. Derham.
3. The state of being braced or tight; tension.
The laxness of the tympanum, when it has lost its brace or tension.
Holder.
4. (Arch. & Engin.)
Definition: 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.
5. (Print.)
Definition: 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.
6. (Naut.)
Definition: A rope reeved through a block at the end of a yard, by which
the yard is moved horizontally; also, a rudder gudgeon.
7. (Mech.)
Definition: A curved instrument or handle of iron or wood, for holding and
turning bits, etc.; a bitstock.
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.
He is said to have shot . . . fifty brace of pheasants. Addison.
A brace of brethren, both bishops, both eminent for learning and
religion, now appeared in the church. Fuller.
But you, my brace of lords. Shak.
9. pl.
Definition: Straps or bands to sustain trousers; suspenders.
I embroidered for you a beautiful pair of braces. Thackeray.
10. Harness; warlike preparation. [Obs.]
For that it stands not in such warlike brace. Shak.
11. Armor for the arm; vantbrace.
12. (Mining)
Definition: The mouth of a shaft. [Cornwall] Angle brace. See under Angle.
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.
2. To draw tight; to tighten; to put in a state of tension; to
strain; to strengthen; as, to brace the nerves.
And welcome war to brace her drums. Campbell.
3. To bind or tie closely; to fasten tightly.
The women of China, by bracing and binding them from their infancy,
have very little feet. Locke.
Some who spurs had first braced on. Sir W. Scott.
4. To place in a position for resisting pressure; to hold firmly; as,
he braced himself against the crowd.
A sturdy lance in his right hand he braced. Fairfax.
5. (Naut.)
Definition: To move around by means of braces; as, to brace the yards. 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.
Brace, v. i.
Definition: To get tone or vigor; to rouse one's energies; -with up.
[Colloq.]
Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition