English

Noun

brace

1. That which holds anything tightly or supports it firmly; a bandage or a prop.
2. A cord, ligament, or rod, for producing or maintaining tension, as a cord on the side of a drum.
3. The state of being braced or tight; tension.
4. 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.
5. A vertical curved line ('{' or '}') connecting two or more words or lines, which are to be taken together; thus, boll, bowl; or, in music, used to connect staves.
6. A rope reeved through a block at the end of a yard, by which the yard is moved horizontally; also, a rudder gudgeon.
7. A curved instrument or handle of iron or wood, for holding and turning bits, etc.; a bitstock.
8. A pair; a couple; as, a brace of ducks; now rarely applied to persons, except familiarly or with some contempt.
9. Harness; warlike preparation.
10. Armor for the arm; vantbrace.
11. The mouth of a shaft.
12. (usually plural) Straps or bands to sustain trousers; suspenders.
13. (usually plural) A system of wires, brackets, and elastic bands used to correct crooked teeth.

verb

brace

1. To prepare oneself for an impact or blow. All hands, brace for impact!