brace

brace1 [ breıs ] verb

1. ) intransitive or transitive to get ready for something unpleasant:

brace yourself for something: I braced myself for the results of my blood test.

brace yourself to do something: Smith braced himself to deliver the bad news.

be braced for something: Financial markets are braced for another turbulent week.

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 braced herself against the wall.

3. ) intransitive or 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 angry crowd, his arms folded, his legs braced.

brace for: The passengers were told how to brace for the crash.

4. ) transitive to support an object with a piece of wood, metal, etc. so that it does not fall down

brace

brace 2 [ breıs ] noun

1. ) count a piece of wood, metal, etc. used for supporting an object so that it does not fall down

a ) braces plural AMERICAN a set of wires that you wear on your teeth to push them into the correct position. British brace

b ) braces plural AMERICAN a pair of metal objects that someone wears around their legs to help them to walk. British callipers

c ) count 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

2. ) count TECHNICAL a CURLY BRACKET

3. ) (plural brace) count a pair of GAME BIRDS (=birds killed for sport and then eaten):

brace of: three brace of pheasant

a ) LITERARY a pair of people, animals, or objects

4. ) braces plural BRITISH SUSPENDERS