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   brace

   /brās/

   noun

   • 1. a device fitted to something, in particular a weak or injured part of the body, to give support: "a neck brace" Similar supportcalipertrusssurgical appliance
   • ▪ a strengthening piece of iron or timber used in building or carpentry. Similar propbeamjoistbattenrodpostpolecolumnstrutstaysupporttrussreinforcementbuttressshorestanchionbracketsprag
   • ▪ a wire device fitted in the mouth to straighten the teeth.
   • ▪ a tool in carpentry having a crank handle and a socket to hold a bit for boring. Similar drilldrilling toolboring toolrotary tool
   • ▪ a rope leading aft from each yardarm, used for trimming the sail.
   • 2. a pair of straps that pass over the shoulders and fasten to the waistband of a pair of trousers or a skirt at the front and back to hold it up; suspenders. British
   • 3. a pair of something, typically of birds or mammals killed in hunting: "thirty brace of grouse" Similar paircoupleduotwosomeduologytworare:dupletdyadduaddoubleton
   • 4. either of the two marks { and }, used either to indicate that two or more items on one side have the same relationship as each other to the single item to which the other side points, or in pairs to show that words between them are connected. Similar bracketparenthesis
   • ▪ the mark {, used to join staves that are to be performed at the same time.

   verb

   • 1. make (a structure) stronger or firmer with wood, iron, or other forms of support: "the posts were braced by lengths of timber" Similar supportshore upprop uphold upbuttresscarrybearunderpinstrengthenreinforcefortifyarchaic:underprop
   • ▪ press (one's body or part of one's body) firmly against something in order to stay balanced: "she braced her feet against a projecting shelf" Similar steadysecurestabilizefixmake fastproppoisetensetightenstiffenstrain
   • ▪ tense the muscles in (a part of one's body) in order to stay stiffly in a certain position: "he stood with legs braced"
   • 2. prepare (oneself) for something difficult or unpleasant: "both stations are bracing themselves for job losses" Similar prepareget readymake readygear upnervesteelgalvanizegirdstrengthenfortifybolsterbuttressinformal:psych oneself up

   Word Origin Middle English (as a verb meaning ‘clasp, fasten tightly’): from Old French bracier ‘embrace’, from brace ‘two arms’, from Latin bracchia, plural of bracchium ‘arm’, from Greek brakhiōn.

   Scrabble Points: 9

   • B

     3

   • R

     1

   • A

     1

   • C

     3

   • E

     1

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