countable an object that supports a part of your body and holds it in the correct position after you have injured it
a back/neck brace
Synonyms and related words
Bandages, supports and other dressings
bandage
Band-Aid
brace
1a
countable a piece of wood, metal etc used for supporting an object so that it does not fall down
Synonyms and related words
Frames and supports for structures
frame
foundation
support
1b
braces
plural Americana pair of metal objects that someone wears around their legs to help them to walk. The British word is callipers.
Synonyms and related words
Bandages, supports and other dressings
bandage
Band-Aid
brace
2
countable Britisha set of wires that you wear on your teeth to push them into the correct position. The American word is braces.
Synonyms and related words
Dentistry
amalgam
brace
bridge
3
plural
brace
countable a pair of game birds (=birds killed for sport and then eaten)
brace of:
three brace of pheasant
Synonyms and related words
Groups of specific living things
brace
colony
community
3a
literarya pair of people, animals, or objects
Synonyms and related words
Specific numbers of people or things
baker’s dozen
brace
couple
4
braces
plural Britishtwo long narrow pieces of cloth that go over a man’s shoulders and are fastened to the waist of his trousers at the front and back in order to hold them up. The American word is suspenders.
Synonyms and related words
Accessories used to fasten and secure clothes
belt
braces
buckle
5
countable a curly bracket
Synonyms and related words
Punctuation
ampersand
apostrophe
bad break
Synonyms and related words
Mathematical symbols
addition sign
brace
bracket
6
countable a part of a tool called a brace and bit, used especially in the past for making holes in things. You usually use a drill now instead.
Synonyms and related words
Parts of tools
attachment
bit
blade
brace
noun
US /breɪs/
Other entries for this word
braceverb
brace positionnoun
Word Forms
singular
brace
plural
braces
DEFINITIONS4
1
countable a piece of wood, metal, etc. used for supporting an object so that it does not fall down
Synonyms and related words
Frames and supports for structures
frame
foundation
support
1a
braces
plural Americana set of wires that you wear on your teeth to push them into the correct position. The British word is brace.
Synonyms and related words
Dentistry
amalgam
braces
bridge
1b
braces
plural Americana pair of metal objects that someone wears around their legs to help them to walk. The British word is callipers.
Synonyms and related words
Bandages, supports and other dressings
bandage
Band-Aid
brace
1c
countable an object that supports a part of your body and holds it in the correct position after you have injured it
a back/neck brace
Synonyms and related words
Bandages, supports and other dressings
bandage
Band-Aid
brace
2
countable a curly bracket
Synonyms and related words
Punctuation
ampersand
apostrophe
bad break
Synonyms and related words
Mathematical symbols
addition sign
brace
bracket
3
plural
brace
countable a pair of game birds (=birds killed for sport and then eaten)
brace of:
three brace of pheasant
Synonyms and related words
Groups of specific living things
bevy
brace
colony
3a
literarya pair of people, animals, or objects
Synonyms and related words
Specific numbers of people or things
baker’s dozen
brace
couple
4
braces
plural Britishsuspenders
Synonyms and related words
Accessories used to fasten and secure clothes
belt
braces
buckle
brace
verb
UK /breɪs/
Other entries for this word
bracenoun
brace positionnoun
braceandbit at brace
Word Forms
present tense
I/you/we/they
brace
he/she/it
braces
present participle
bracing
past tense
braced
past participle
braced
DEFINITIONS4
1
intransitive/transitive to get ready for something unpleasant
brace yourself for something:
I bracedmyself for the results of my bloodtest.
brace yourself to do something:
Smithbracedhimself to give her the badnews.
be braced for something:
Financialmarkets are braced for another turbulentweek.
brace for:
The city is bracingitself for the hurricane.
Synonyms and related words
To be ready, or to get ready for something
stand by
brace
steel yourself
2
transitive to push your body, or a part of it, against something solid and strong in order to support yourself or to avoid falling
She bracedherself against the wall.
brace yourself/something against something:
He braced his foot against the door so she couldn’t open it.
Synonyms and related words
To stop someone or something from falling
catch
prop up
hold up
3
intransitive/transitive to make your body, or a part of it, stiff and strong in order to do something that needs a lot of physical effort
He faced the angrycrowd, his armsfolded, his legsbraced.
brace for:
The passengers were told how to brace for the crash.
Synonyms and related words
To move your limbs and appendages
reach out
reach
kick
4
transitive to support an object with a piece of wood, metal etc so that it does not fall down
Synonyms and related words
To stop someone or something from falling
catch
prop up
hold up
brace
verb
US /breɪs/
Other entries for this word
bracenoun
brace positionnoun
Word Forms
present tense
I/you/we/they
brace
he/she/it
braces
present participle
bracing
past tense
braced
past participle
braced
DEFINITIONS4
1
intransitive/transitive to get ready for something unpleasant
brace yourself for something:
I bracedmyself for the results of my bloodtest.
brace yourself to do something:
Smithbracedhimself to give her the badnews.
be braced for something:
Financialmarkets are braced for another turbulentweek.
Synonyms and related words
To be ready, or to get ready for something
stand by
brace
steel yourself
2
transitive to push your body, or a part of it, against something solid and strong in order to support yourself or to avoid falling
brace yourself/something against something:
He braced his foot against the door so she couldn’t open it.
She bracedherself against the wall.
Synonyms and related words
To stop someone or something from falling
catch
prop up
hold up
3
intransitive/transitive to make your body, or a part of it, stiff and strong in order to do something that needs a lot of physical effort
He faced the angrycrowd, his armsfolded, his legsbraced.
brace for:
The passengers were told how to brace for the crash.
Synonyms and related words
To move your limbs and appendages
spread
fold your arms/hands
bend
4
transitive to support an object with a piece of wood, metal, etc. so that it does not fall down