braces
[brˈesəz] /ˈbrās How to pronounce brace (audio)/ (ame, mw)
braces — verb
- bracespresent simple I / you / we / they
- braceses3rd person singular
- bracesing-ing form
- bracesedpast simple
1. to make yourself feel mentally ready for something difficult, sudden, or unpleas
to make yourself feel mentally ready for something difficult, sudden, or unpleasant.
Arjun braced himself before opening the hospital test results.
pattern: brace yourself before bad news
The passengers braced for impact when the plane dropped sharply.
pattern: brace for impact
Paloma braced herself for a difficult talk with her manager.
After the phone rang at midnight, everyone braced for bad news.
- steel yourself
stronger and more literary than brace yourself
- prepare
broader and less focused on emotional shock
文法句型
brace yourself
brace for impact
brace yourself for bad news
用法筆記
Often reflexive when the subject prepares mentally. The pattern brace for is especially common before a shock, crash, or piece of bad news.
2. to make something stronger or steadier by putting a support against it.
to make something stronger or steadier by putting a support against it.
Workers braced the garden fence with two extra wooden posts.
pattern: brace something with extra support
The crew braced the stage roof before the evening storm arrived.
Metal bars braced the old bridge while repairs continued below.
文法句型
brace a wall
brace the frame with metal bars
be braced by beams
用法筆記
This sense is common in building, repair, and engineering contexts, where a support is added to stop movement or collapse.
3. to pull something tight so it becomes firm and ready to use.
to pull something tight so it becomes firm and ready to use.
Kofi braced the tent rope before the wind reached the hill.
pattern: brace a rope tight
The sailor braced the wet line until the canvas stopped flapping.
A stagehand braced the cable so the curtain would rise smoothly.
文法句型
brace a rope
brace the line tight
brace for use
用法筆記
Used for ropes, lines, or similar things that must be pulled tight. It overlaps with tighten, but brace often suggests preparing the thing for action.
4. to place something, especially part of your body, firmly so it will not move.
to place something, especially part of your body, firmly so it will not move.
Heather braced her feet against the floor and pushed the sofa.
pattern: brace your feet against
The goalkeeper braced both hands on the muddy ground after the fall.
A porter braced the ladder against the wall before climbing.
文法句型
brace your feet
brace your back against a chair
brace something against a wall
用法筆記
Often used when someone presses feet, hands, or an object firmly against another surface to stay steady.
5. to make someone feel fresher, stronger, or more energetic again.
to make someone feel fresher, stronger, or more energetic again.
The cold sea air braced Anna after the long overnight bus ride.
something refreshing braces someone
A quick wash braced the runners before the second race.
Strong coffee braced the tired nurse for the last hour.
- refresh
more ordinary and less forceful
- invigorate
formal and close in meaning
文法句型
brace someone
brace your nerves
be braced by fresh air
用法筆記
This is an older or more literary use. It often describes cold air, water, or another sharp experience that makes you feel stronger.
6. to stop someone and challenge them with questions, demands, or pressure.
to stop someone and challenge them with questions, demands, or pressure.
Reporters braced the mayor outside the court for a clear answer.
pattern: brace someone for an answer
Two older boys braced Brandon at the gate for lunch money.
Angry parents braced the coach after the canceled school trip.
文法句型
brace someone in the street
brace someone for money
be braced by reporters
用法筆記
Often informal and slightly aggressive. It suggests stopping someone directly and pressing them for something.
braces — noun
1. a piece fixed to a structure to make it stronger and stop it from moving.
a piece fixed to a structure to make it stronger and stop it from moving.
Steel braces kept the greenhouse frame steady through the winter wind.
structural braces on a frame
The carpenter added wooden braces under the long kitchen shelf.
Diagonal braces stopped the festival gate from shaking in the crowd.
文法句型
a diagonal brace
fit braces under a shelf
steel braces on a frame
用法筆記
This sense is common in building and design. A brace is one specific support piece, often added at an angle.
2. a device worn on a weak, injured, or growing part of the body to support it or h
a device worn on a weak, injured, or growing part of the body to support it or hold it in a better position.
After the fall, Maja wore a knee brace during every practice.
common medical support use
The child walked carefully with metal braces on both legs.
pattern: braces on both legs
The doctor fitted a back brace before Kofi returned to work.
Soft wrist braces helped the pianist rest sore joints overnight.
文法句型
wear braces on your legs
a knee brace
need a back brace
用法筆記
This everyday medical sense covers supports for legs, knees, wrists, backs, and similar body parts.
3. a set of wires and small pieces fixed to the teeth to make them straighter.
a set of wires and small pieces fixed to the teeth to make them straighter.
Yuki got braces in middle school to straighten crowded front teeth.
pattern: get braces to straighten teeth
The orthodontist tightened Noor's braces at the monthly visit.
common collocation: tighten braces
Soup was easier to eat during Christopher's first week with braces.
A broken bracket on the braces cut the inside of her lip.
- orthodontic appliance
formal dental term
- aligners
clear removable devices rather than fixed wires
文法句型
wear braces
get braces fitted
have your braces tightened
用法筆記
Usually plural in ordinary speech. People often talk about getting braces, wearing braces, or having braces tightened.
4. straps worn over the shoulders to hold up trousers.
straps worn over the shoulders to hold up trousers.
The tailor stitched buttons inside the trousers for Simon's braces.
British clothing sense
Grandpa wore striped braces with a white shirt every Sunday.
Before the wedding, the best man adjusted his braces in the mirror.
The vintage shop sold wool trousers with matching leather braces.
- suspenders
the everyday American English word for the same item
- trouser braces
more explicit when confusion with dental braces is possible
文法句型
wear braces
a pair of braces
braces with trousers
用法筆記
This is the usual British English word for the clothing item called suspenders in American English.
常見錯誤
5. a rope used on a sailing ship to turn a yard from side to side.
a rope used on a sailing ship to turn a yard from side to side.
The deckhands hauled the braces to swing the yard before the gust.
nautical use with a yard
Salt made the old braces stiff after the long voyage south.
The captain shouted for the port braces as the wind shifted suddenly.
文法句型
haul the braces
slacken the braces
adjust the braces
用法筆記
This is a specialist sailing term referring to ropes that turn the yard, not to body supports or trouser straps.
6. the pair of written marks { } used to group words, numbers, or lines together.
the pair of written marks { } used to group words, numbers, or lines together.
Please put the two options in braces on the classroom whiteboard.
written marks { }
The coding guide used braces around every block in the example.
In the score, a brace joined the piano's two staffs.
- curly brackets
common descriptive name for the same marks
文法句型
put something in braces
open brace
close brace
用法筆記
This sense is used in writing, music, and computing. In music, the same curved mark can join two staffs that are played together.
7. the pair of square marks [ ] used to enclose words or notes in some kinds of wri
the pair of square marks [ ] used to enclose words or notes in some kinds of writing.
The editor placed the missing date in square braces after the quote.
square braces [ ] in text
A note inside braces explained the missing line in the diary.
The teacher circled the braces and asked which words they enclosed.
- square brackets
the more usual everyday name
文法句型
put words in braces
square braces in a text
inside braces
用法筆記
Some dictionaries and style guides use brace as a broader label that can also include square brackets.
8. two things of the same kind taken together as a pair.
two things of the same kind taken together as a pair.
The hunter returned with a brace of ducks at sunset.
fixed phrase: a brace of
The museum displayed a brace of silver pistols in one case.
The columnist offered a brace of sharp questions for the minister.
- pair
the ordinary everyday word
文法句型
a brace of ducks
brace of pistols
a brace of ideas
用法筆記
Often appears in the fixed pattern a brace of, especially in hunting, older writing, or formal style.
9. a fastening piece that joins two parts or keeps something closed.
a fastening piece that joins two parts or keeps something closed.
The jeweler replaced the tiny brace on the silver necklace clasp.
brace as a fastening piece
A cracked leather bag brace came loose near the handle.
The restorer cleaned the brass brace before fixing the old case.
文法句型
a brace on a bag
fasten with a brace
replace the brace
用法筆記
This is a rare hardware sense for a joining or fastening piece, not the more familiar body or dental meanings.
10. a hand tool with a bent handle that turns a drill bit.
a hand tool with a bent handle that turns a drill bit.
The carpenter used a brace and bit on the oak doorframe.
fixed phrase: brace and bit
Grandfather kept an old wooden brace above the workbench.
With each turn of the brace, the bit cut deeper into pine.
- hand drill
broader and more modern everyday label
文法句型
use a brace and bit
turn the brace
fit a bit into the brace
用法筆記
Usually found in the phrase brace and bit when talking about traditional hand tools.