BRACKET

bracket, wall bracket

(noun) a support projecting from a wall (as to hold a shelf)

bracket, square bracket

(noun) either of two punctuation marks ([ or ]) used to enclose textual material

bracket, angle bracket

(noun) either of two punctuation marks (‘<’ or ‘>’) used in computer programming and sometimes used to enclose textual material

bracket

(noun) a category falling within certain defined limits

bracket

(verb) classify or group

bracket, bracket out

(verb) place into brackets; “Please bracket this remark”

bracket

(verb) support with brackets; “bracket bookshelves”

Source: WordNet® 3.1

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Etymology 1

Noun

bracket (plural brackets)

A fixture attached to a wall to hold up a shelf.

(engineering) Any intermediate object that connects a smaller part to a larger part, the smaller part typically projecting sideways from the larger part.

(nautical) A short crooked timber, resembling a knee, used as a support.

(military) The cheek or side of an ordnance carriage, supporting the trunnions.

Any of the characters "(", ")", "[", "]", "{", "}", "<" and ">", used in pairs to enclose parenthetic remarks, sections of mathematical expressions, etc.

(UK) "(" and ")" specifically, the other forms above requiring adjectives for disambiguation.

(US) "[" and "]" specifically - as opposed to the other forms, which have their own technical names.

(sports) A printed diagram of games in a tournament.

(sports) A prediction of the outcome of games in a tournament, used for betting purposes.

One of several ranges of numbers.

(algebra) A pair of values that represent the smallest and largest elements of a range.

(military) In artillery, the endangered region between two shell impacts (one long and one short). The next shell fired is likely to hit accurately.

(typography) The small curved or angular corner formed by a serif and a stroke in a letter.

(land surveying, 19th century) a mark cut into a stone by land surveyors to secure a bench.

Synonyms

• ("(" and ")"): parentheses, parens

• (land surveying): benchmark

Hyponyms

• See also bracket

Verb

bracket (third-person singular simple present brackets, present participle bracketing, simple past and past participle bracketed)

To support by means of mechanical brackets.

To enclose in typographical brackets.

To bound on both sides, to surround, as enclosing with brackets.

To place in the same category.

To mark distinctly for special treatment.

To set aside, discount, ignore.

(photography) To take multiple images of the same subject, using a range of exposure settings, in order to help ensure that a satisfactory image is obtained.

(philosophy, phenomenology) In the philosophical system of Edmund Husserl and his followers, to set aside metaphysical theories and existential questions concerning what is real in order to focus philosophical attention simply on the actual content of experience.

Etymology 2

Noun

bracket (uncountable)

Alternative form of bragget (drink made with ale and honey)

Anagrams

• betrack

Source: Wiktionary

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Brack"et, n. Etym: [Cf.OF. braguette codpiece, F. brayette, Sp. bragueta, also a projecting mold in architecture; dim. fr.L. bracae breeches; cf. also, OF. bracon beam, prop, support; of unknown origin. Cf. Breeches.]

1. (Arch.)

Definition: An architectural member, plain or ornamental, projecting from a wall or pier, to support weight falling outside of the same; also, a decorative feature seeming to discharge such an office.

Note: This is the more general word. See Brace, Cantalever, Console, Corbel, Strut.

2. (Engin. & Mech.)

Definition: A piece or combination of pieces, usually triangular in general shape, projecting from, or fastened to, a wall, or other surface, to support heavy bodies or to strengthen angles.

3. (Naut.)

Definition: A shot, crooked timber, resembling a knee, used as a support.

4. (Mil.)

Definition: The cheek or side of an ordnance carriage.

5. (Print.)

Definition: One of two characters [], used to inclose a reference, explanation, or note, or a part to be excluded from a sentence, to indicate an interpolation, to rectify a mistake, or to supply an omission, and for certain other purposes; -- called also crotchet.

6. A gas fixture or lamp holder projecting from the face of a wall, column, or the like. Bracket light, a gas fixture or a lamp attached to a wall, column, etc.

Brack"et, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Bracketed; p. pr. & vb. n. Bracketing]

Definition: To place within brackets; to connect by brackets; to furnish with brackets.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition

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