bracelet

IPA/ˈbreɪslət/
KK[brˈeslət]IPA/ˈbreɪslət/

bracelet — noun

  • braceletsingular
  • braceletsplural

1. a piece of jewelry, often a chain or band, that you wear on your wrist and somet

1.nounA2
Definition

a piece of jewelry, often a chain or band, that you wear on your wrist and sometimes on your upper arm.

Example

Priya wore a silver bracelet her grandmother gave her last summer.

wear + bracelet

On the bus, a child's plastic bracelet slipped onto the floor.

Common collocations
  • silver bracelet
  • gold bracelet
  • beaded bracelet
  • charm bracelet
  • wear a bracelet
  • take off a bracelet
Synonyms
  • bangle

    usually a hard, round bracelet that slips over the hand

  • wristband

    often a wider cloth, plastic, or rubber band, less decorative

  • cuff

    can mean a wide, firm bracelet with a bold fashion look

  • armlet

    worn on the upper arm rather than the wrist

Grammar Patterns

wear a bracelet

put on a bracelet

take off a bracelet

Usage Note

Usually follows verbs such as wear, put on, take off, buy, and give. A bracelet is normally a decorative item, unlike a watch strap, which is part of a watch.

Common Mistakes

She wore a bracelet around her neck.
She wore a necklace around her neck.
A bracelet goes on the wrist or arm, not the neck.

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Bracelet is the broad everyday word for jewelry worn around the wrist, and sometimes the upper arm. Bangle usually suggests a hard, round bracelet without a clasp, often worn in sets. Wristband is wider and more practical; it may be cloth, plastic, or rubber, and it is often for sports, events, or ID use rather than decoration. Armlet is narrower in meaning because it is worn on the upper arm. Cuff can mean a wide, firm bracelet with a strong fashion look. If the exact shape does not matter, bracelet is the safest choice. You might wear a gold bracelet to dinner, snap on a festival wristband at the gate, or stack glass bangles for a dance show.

bangle ↗wristband ↗armletcuff ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

  • silver bracelet
  • gold bracelet
  • charm bracelet
  • beaded bracelet
  • friendship bracelet

Phrases

  • wear a bracelet
  • put on a bracelet
  • take off a bracelet
  • give someone a bracelet

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

Bracelet came into English from French bracelet, a small-form word linked to the idea of the arm. The older root goes back to Latin bracchium, meaning "arm."