brace

• POS: Noun, Verb (usu participle)

CIDE DICTIONARY

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. .].

•  That which holds anything tightly or supports it firmly; a bandage or a prop.  [1913 Webster]
•  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."  [1913 Webster]
•  The state of being braced or tight; tension.  [1913 Webster]

  "The laxness of the tympanum, when it has lost its brace or tension."  [1913 Webster]
•  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]
•  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]
•  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]
•  A curved instrument or handle of iron or wood, for holding and turning bits, etc.; a bitstock.  [1913 Webster]
•  A pair; a couple; as, a brace of ducks; now rarely applied to persons, except familiarly or with some contempt.  Shak.  [1913 Webster]

  "He is said to have shot . . . fifty brace of pheasants."  [1913 Webster]

  "A brace of brethren, both bishops, both eminent for learning and religion, now appeared in the church."  [1913 Webster]

  "But you, my brace of lords."  [1913 Webster]
•  Straps or bands to sustain trousers; suspenders.  [1913 Webster]

  "I embroidered for you a beautiful pair of braces."  [1913 Webster]
•  Harness; warlike preparation.  [1913 Webster]

  "For that it stands not in such warlike brace."  [1913 Webster]
•  Armor for the arm; vantbrace.  [1913 Webster]
•  The mouth of a shaft.  [1913 Webster]

Angle brace. See under Angle.

brace, v. t. 

•  To furnish with braces; to support; to prop; as, to brace a beam in a building.  [1913 Webster]
•  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."  [1913 Webster]
•  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."  [1913 Webster]

  "Some who spurs had first braced on."  [1913 Webster]
•  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."  [1913 Webster]
•  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.

brace, v. i. 

 To get tone or vigor; to rouse one's energies; -- with up.  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

brace, n. & v.
--n.
1 a device that clamps or fastens tightly.
2 (in pl.) Brit. straps supporting trousers from the shoulders.
3 a wire device for straightening the teeth.
4 (pl. same) a pair (esp. of game).
5 a rope attached to the yard of a ship for trimming the sail.
6 a a connecting mark { or } used in printing. b Mus. a similar mark connecting staves to be performed at the same time.
--v.tr.
1 fasten tightly, give firmness to.
2 make steady by supporting.
3 (esp. as bracing adj.) invigorate, refresh.
4 (often refl.) prepare for a difficulty, shock, etc.

Idiom

brace and bit a revolving tool with a D-shaped central handle for boring.

Derivative

bracingly adv. bracingness n.

Etymology

ME f. OF brace two arms, bracier embrace, f. L bra(c)chia arms

THESAURUS

brace

Ace bandage, Band-Aid, adhesive tape, advocate, afford support, alpenstock, animate, appeal, application, arm, athletic supporter, back, back up, backbone, backing, band, bandage, bandaging, bandeau, bar, bar line, bear, bear up, bearer, beef up, belt, bend, beseech, bind, bind up, binder, bolster, bolster up, both, bra, brace up, bracer, bracket, brassiere, brisk, brisken, buck up, buckle, bundle, buoy up, buttress, cane, carrier, carry, case harden, cast, cataplasm, catch, cervix, chain, cheer, chirk up, cinch, clamp, clasp, clip, column, compress, confirm, corset, cotton, couple, couplet, coupling, court plaster, cradle, cravat, crave, crook, crutch, cushion, degree, distich, do up, double harness, doublet, dressing, drill, duad, duet, duo, dyad, elastic bandage, enliven, entreat, epithem, exhilarate, fastener, fortify, foundation garment, four-tailed bandage, fresh up, freshen, freshen up, fulcrum, gallows, galluses, gauze, gird, girdle, girt, girth, give support, guy, guywire, hang on, harden, hold, hold on, hold up, holdfast, implore, importune, invigorate, jock, jockstrap, keep afloat, keep up, lace, lash, leash, ledger line, lend support, line, lint, mainstay, maintain, maintainer, mast, match, mates, neck, nerve, pair, perk up, pick up, pillow, plaster, plaster cast, plead, pledget, poultice, pray, prop, prop up, quicken, reanimate, recreate, refresh, refreshen, regale, reinforce, reinforcement, reinforcer, reinvigorate, renew, rest, resting place, restrengthen, revive, revivify, rigging, rigidify, roller, roller bandage, rope, rubber bandage, screw up, set of two, set up, shore, shore up, shoulder, shroud, sling, space, span, spine, splice, splint, sponge, sprit, staff, standing rigging, stave, stay, steady, steel, stick, stiffen, stiffener, stimulate, strap, strengthen, strengthener, strut, stupe, subsidize, subvention, supplicate, support, supporter, sustain, sustainer, swaddle, swathe, tampon, tape, team, temper, tense, tent, the two, tie, tie up, tighten, toughen, tourniquet, triangular bandage, trice up, truss, twain, two, twosome, underbrace, undergird, underlie, underpin, underpinning, underset, upbear, uphold, upholder, upkeep, vivify, walking stick, wire, wrap, wrap up, yoke

ROGET THESAURUS

brace

Junction

VB join, unite, conjoin, connect, associate, put together, lay together, clap together, hang together, lump together, hold together, piece together, tack together, fix together, bind up together together, embody, reembody, roll into one, attach, fix, affix, saddle on, fasten, bind, secure, clinch, twist, make fast, tie, pinion, string, strap, sew, lace, tat, stitch, tack, knit, button, buckle, hitch, lash, truss, bandage, braid, splice, swathe, gird, tether, moor, picket, harness, chain, fetter, lock, latch, belay, brace, hook, grapple, leash, couple, accouple, link, yoke, bracket, marry, bridge over, span, braze, pin, nail, bolt, hasp, clasp, clamp, crimp, screw, rivet, impact, solder, set, weld together, fuse together, wedge, rabbet, mortise, miter, jam, dovetail, enchase, graft, ingraft, inosculate, entwine, intwine, interlink, interlace, intertwine, intertwist, interweave, entangle, twine round, belay, tighten, trice up, screw up, be joined, hang together, hold together, cohere.

Connection

N connection, vinculum, link, connective, connection, junction, bond of union, copula, hyphen, intermedium, bracket, bridge, stepping-stone, isthmus, bond, tendon, tendril, fiber, cord, cordage, riband, ribbon, rope, guy, cable, line, halser, hawser, painter, moorings, wire, chain, string, fastener, fastening, tie, ligament, ligature, strap, tackle, rigging, standing rigging, running rigging, traces, harness, yoke, band ribband, bandage, brace, roller, fillet, inkle, with, withe, withy, thong, braid, girder, tiebeam, girth, girdle, cestus, garter, halter, noose, lasso, surcingle, knot, running knot, cabestro, cinch, lariat, legadero, oxreim, suspenders, pin, corking pin, nail, brad, tack, skewer, staple, corrugated fastener, clamp, U-clamp, C-clamp, cramp, cramp iron, ratchet, detent, larigo, pawl, terret, treenail, screw, button, buckle, clasp, hasp, hinge, hank, catch, latch, bolt, latchet, tag, tooth, hook, hook and eye, lock, holdfast, padlock, rivet, anchor, grappling iron, trennel, stake, post, cement, glue, gum, paste, size, wafer, solder, lute, putty, birdlime, mortar, stucco, plaster, grout, viscum, shackle, rein, prop.

Refreshment

VB brace, reinvigorate, air, freshen up, refresh, recruit, repair, fan, refocillate, refresh the inner man, breathe, respire, drink in the ozone, take a break, take a breather, take five, draw breath, take a deep breath, take breath, gather breath, take a long breath, regain breath, recover breath, get better, raise one's head, recover one's strength, regain one's strength, renew one's strength, perk up, get one's second wind, come to oneself, feel refreshed, feel like a giant refreshed.

Duality

N duality, dualism, duplicity, biplicity, biformity, polarity, two, deuce, couple, duet, brace, pair, cheeks, twins, Castor and Pollux, gemini, Siamese twins, fellows, yoke, conjugation, dispermy, doublets, dyad, span, two, twin, dual, dualistic, double, binary, binomial, twin, biparous, dyadic, conduplicate, duplex, biduous, binate, diphyletic, dispermic, unijugate, tete-a-tete, coupled, conjugate, both, both the one and the other.

Strength

VB be strong, be stronger, overmatch, render strong, give strength, strengthen, invigorate, brace, nerve, fortify, sustain, harden, case harden, steel, gird, screw up, wind up, set up, gird up one's loins, brace up one's loins, recruit, set on one's legs, vivify, refresh, refect, reinforce, reenforce.

Carrier

N carrier, porter, bearer, tranter, conveyer, cargador, express, expressman, stevedore, coolie, conductor, locomotive, motor, beast, beast of burden, cattle, horse, nag, palfrey, Arab, blood horse, thoroughbred, galloway, charger, courser, racer, hunter, jument, pony, filly, colt, foal, barb, roan, jade, hack, bidet, pad, cob, tit, punch, roadster, goer, racehorse, pack horse, draft horse, cart horse, dray horse, post horse, ketch, Shetland pony, shelty, sheltie, garran, garron, jennet, genet, bayard, mare, stallion, gelding, bronco, broncho, cayuse, creature, critter, cow pony, mustang, Narraganset, waler, stud, Pegasus, Bucephalus, Rocinante, ass, donkey, jackass, mule, hinny, sumpter horse, sumpter mule, burro, cuddy, ladino, reindeer, camel, dromedary, llama, elephant, carrier pigeon, pallet, brace, cart, dolley, support, fork lift, carriage, ship, equine, asinine.

Concord

N concord, accord, harmony, symphony, homologue, agreement, sympathy, empathy, response, union, unison, unity, bonds of harmony, peace, unanimity, league, happy family, rapprochement, reunion, amity, alliance, entente cordiale, good understanding, conciliation, peacemaker, intercessor, mediator, concordant, congenial, agreeing, in accord, harmonious, united, cemented, banded together, allied, friendly, fraternal, conciliatory, at one with, of one mind, at peace, in still water, tranquil, with one voice, in concert with, hand in hand, on one's side, commune periculum concordiam parit, melody concord, melody, rhythm, measure, rhyme, pitch, timbre, intonation, tone, scale, gamut, diapason, diatonic chromatic scale, enharmonic scale, key, clef, chords, modulation, temperament, syncope, syncopation, preparation, suspension, resolution, staff, stave, line, space, brace, bar, rest, appoggiato, appoggiatura, acciaccatura, note, musical note, notes of a scale, sharp, flat, natural, high note, low note, interval, semitone, second, third, fourth, diatessaron, breve, semibreve, minim, crotchet, quaver, semiquaver, demisemiquaver, hemidemisemiquaver, sustained note, drone, burden, tonic, key note, leading note, fundamental note, supertonic, mediant, dominant, submediant, subdominant, octave, tetrachord, major key, minor key, major scale, minor scale, major mode, minor mode, passage, phrase, concord, harmony, emmeleia, unison, unisonance, chime, homophony, euphony, euphonism, tonality, consonance, consent, part, harmony, harmonics, thorough-bass, fundamental-bass, counterpoint, faburden, piece of music, composer, harmonist, contrapuntist (musician), harmonious, harmonical, in concord, in tune, in concert, unisonant, concentual, symphonizing, isotonic, homophonous, assonant, ariose, consonant, measured, rhythmical, diatonic, chromatic, enharmonic, melodious, musical, melic, tuneful, tunable, sweet, dulcet, canorous, mellow, mellifluous, soft, clear, clear as a bell, silvery, euphonious, euphonic, euphonical, symphonious, enchanting fine-toned, full-toned, silver-toned, harmoniously, in harmony, as one, the hidden soul of harmony.