Question

brace

Accepted Answer

noun, verb  BrE /breɪs/￼NAmE /breɪs/￼noun1 [countable] a device that holds things firmly together or holds and supports them in position￼a neck brace (= worn to support the neck after an injury)2 [countable](NAmE braces [plural])a metal device that children wear inside the mouth to help their teeth grow straight￼My daughter has to wear a brace on her teeth.3 braces (BrE)(NAmE sus•pend•ers)[plural] long narrow pieces of cloth, leather, etc. for holding trousers/pants up. They are fastened to the top of the trousers/pants at the front and back and passed over the shoulders￼a pair of braces4 (NAmE)(BrE cal•li•per)[countable, usually plural] a metal support for weak or injured legs5 [countable] either of the two marks, { }, used to show that the words, etc. between them are connected￼ compare bracket6 [countable] (pl. brace) a pair of birds or animals that have been killed in hunting￼two brace of partridge(s)￼ He scored a brace of goals.￼ see belt and braces at belt n.verb1 ~ sb/yourself (for sth)| ~ sb/yourself (to do sth)    to prepare sb/yourself for sth difficult or unpleasant that is going to happen￼UN troops are braced for more violence.￼ They are bracing themselves for a long legal battle.2 ~ sth/yourself (against sth)    to press your body or part of your body firmly against sth in order to stop yourself from falling￼They braced themselves against the wind.3 ~ sth    to contract the muscles in your body or part of your body before doing sth that is physically difficult￼He stood with his legs and shoulders braced, ready to lift the weights.4 ~ sth (technical) to make sth stronger or more solid by supporting it with sth￼The roof was braced by lengths of timber.

Brace Sth Body Sb/Yourself Braced Device Holds Firmly