braced
braced — 動詞
- bracedpresent simple I / you / we / they
- braceds3rd person singular
- braceding-ing form
- bracededpast simple
1. to make an object firm and steady by placing it against something solid or by ad
支撐；加固
用支撐物使物體穩固不移動
to make an object firm and steady by placing it against something solid or by adding a supporting structure, so that it does not tip over, fall, or move out of position.
Mira braced the old bookshelf against the wall with a metal bracket so it would not tip over.
Mira 用一個金屬支架把舊書架靠在牆上加固，免得它倒下來。
brace + object + against + noun (physical support)
The roof beams were braced with thick wooden planks before the storm arrived.
屋頂的橫梁在暴風雨來臨前用厚木板加固了。
passive: brace + with + material
Ishaan braced his feet against the edge of the bathtub and pulled hard on the wrench.
Ishaan 把雙腳撐在浴缸邊緣，用力拉動扳手。
Adina braced the ladder firmly against the tree trunk before climbing up to pick the apples.
Adina 在爬上去摘蘋果之前，先把梯子牢牢地靠在樹幹上。
The wooden gate was braced diagonally with a strip of iron to stop it from sagging.
那扇木門的對角線上加固了一條鐵片，防止它下垂。
- weaken
to make less strong or stable
文法句型
brace + object + against/with + noun
用法筆記
Frequently used in the passive (be braced) when describing how something is held in position. The object of the verb can be a person's own body part (feet, shoulders, back) as well as an inanimate thing.
常見錯誤
2. to get yourself ready mentally or physically to face something that will be hard
準備應對
在心理或體能上為困難做準備
to get yourself ready mentally or physically to face something that will be hard, upsetting, painful, or shocking — such as bad news, a difficult meeting, a physical impact, or an unpleasant task.
Noor braced herself for the dentist's drill as she sat back in the chair.
Noor 往椅子上一靠，做好心理準備面對牙醫的鑽頭。
brace + oneself + for + noun (mental preparation)
The whole department braced for bad news when the manager called a last-minute meeting.
經理臨時通知開會時，整個部門都做好迎接壞消息的心理準備。
brace + for + noun (group subject)
Tomás braced himself against the wind as he cycled up the steep coastal road.
Tomás 弓起身子頂著風，沿著陡峭的海岸公路騎車。
Devika took a deep breath and braced herself to deliver the difficult announcement to the staff.
Devika 深吸一口氣，鼓起勇氣準備向員工宣布那個艱難的消息。
Parents across the city braced for school closures when the snowstorm warning was issued.
暴風雪警報發布後，全市的家長都做好了學校停課的準備。
文法句型
brace + oneself + for + noun
brace + for + noun
brace + infinitive
用法筆記
Commonly used with a reflexive pronoun (brace yourself, brace yourselves). The imperative 'Brace yourself!' or 'Brace yourselves!' is a fixed expression used to warn someone that something shocking or difficult is coming.
常見錯誤
braced — 名詞
1. a piece of wood, metal, or other material that is fitted to a structure to hold
支架；支柱
用於支撐或加固結構的零件
a piece of wood, metal, or other material that is fitted to a structure to hold it firmly in position, stop it from moving, or make it stronger.
The carpenter fitted a steel brace to each corner of the wooden frame.
木匠在木框的每個角落都安裝了一個鋼製支架。
a + (material) + brace — specifying the material
A diagonal brace runs across the back of the tall cabinet to stop it from wobbling.
高大的櫥櫃背面有一條斜角支柱，防止它搖晃。
Nikhil added metal braces under the floorboards to strengthen the old wooden surface.
Nikhil 在舊地板下加裝了金屬支架來加固脆弱的木面。
The shelf collapsed because the brace was not strong enough to hold the weight of the books.
書架垮了下來，因為支架不夠結實，撐不住書本的重量。
Rafael checked every brace on the scaffolding before the painters climbed up.
Rafael 在油漆工人爬上去之前，檢查了鷹架上的每一個支架。
文法句型
a brace
braces (plural)
用法筆記
In construction and DIY contexts, braces are typically made of wood or metal. A 'cross brace' or 'diagonal brace' runs at an angle across a frame to prevent it from collapsing sideways.
2. a device worn on teeth to straighten them over time, or on another part of the b
矯正器；牙套
用於矯正牙齒或支撐身體部位的裝置
a device worn on teeth to straighten them over time, or on another part of the body (such as a leg, neck, or back) to support it after an injury or to correct its position.
Chidi wore braces on his teeth for nearly two years to correct the gap between his front teeth.
Chidi 戴了將近兩年的牙套來矯正門牙之間的縫隙。
wear braces on + body part
The doctor fitted a leg brace to support Trang's weak ankle after the surgery.
醫生給 Trang 的腳踝裝了一個護具，手術後用來支撐她無力的腳踝。
a brace — singular for a single body part
Caleb's braces made brushing his teeth much more time-consuming every morning.
Caleb 戴了牙套之後，每天早上刷牙都要花更多時間。
After the car accident, Takeshi needed a neck brace for eight weeks to protect his spine.
車禍之後，Takeshi 戴了八個星期的頸托來保護脊椎。
The children at the clinic smiled and showed off the colourful bands on their braces.
診所裡的孩子們笑著展示矯正器上五顏六色的橡皮圈。
- orthodontic appliance
formal clinical term for dental braces
- retainer
a different device worn after braces to keep teeth in place
- support
general term for a medical support device
文法句型
braces (for teeth)
a brace (for leg/neck/back)
用法筆記
For teeth, the plural form 'braces' is always used even when referring to one person's device. For other body parts (leg, neck, back), the singular 'a brace' is used for one device. 'Dental braces' is a more formal term for the teeth-straightening device.
常見錯誤
3. two strips of stretchy material that go over the shoulders and fasten to the fro
吊帶
掛在肩上固定褲子的帶子
two strips of stretchy material that go over the shoulders and fasten to the front and back of the trousers so that the trousers stay at the waist, instead of or in addition to a belt.
James wore a smart grey suit with a pair of blue braces instead of a belt.
James 穿了一套講究的灰色西裝，搭配一條藍色吊帶，沒有繫皮帶。
a pair of braces — standard noun phrase
The old tailor recommended wide leather braces to match the formal waistcoat.
老裁縫推薦配寬版的皮製吊帶來搭配正式的背心。
Ziad bought silk braces as a birthday gift for his brother who loved vintage clothing.
Ziad 買了一條絲質吊帶送給他哥哥當生日禮物，因為他哥哥很喜歡復古服裝。
In the photograph, Maeve's grandfather stood proudly in striped trousers and red braces.
照片中，Maeve 的祖父自豪地穿著條紋褲子和紅色吊帶。
Mira prefers braces to a belt because they keep her work trousers in place all day.
Mira 偏好吊帶勝過皮帶，因為吊帶能讓她的工作褲一整天都保持定位。
- suspenders
American English equivalent
- trouser braces
more formal, less common
文法句型
a pair of braces
braces (plural)
用法筆記
This is the British English term. In American English, the same item is called 'suspenders'. In British English, 'suspenders' means something different (garter straps). The word is always used in the plural: 'a pair of braces', 'his braces', 'these braces'.
常見錯誤
❌ 'He wore suspenders to hold up his trousers.' (British context) — In British English, 'suspenders' means garters; use 'braces' for trouser straps.
4. a matched set consisting of two items in the same category — most commonly appli
一對
兩個同類事物（尤指獵物鳥）
a matched set consisting of two items in the same category — most commonly applied to game birds killed while hunting, though also found in formal or literary writing when referring to any paired objects.
The hunter returned to the lodge carrying a brace of pheasants for the evening meal.
獵人提著一對野雞回到小屋，準備當晚餐。
a brace of + hunted bird
In the old hunting print, a brace of ducks hung from the gamekeeper's belt.
在那張古老的狩獵版畫中，一對鴨子掛在獵場看守人的腰帶上。
The farmer's wife roasted a brace of partridges with herbs for the harvest dinner.
農夫的妻子用香草烤了一對鷓鴣來慶祝豐收晚餐。
A brace of wood pigeons sat side by side on the garden fence at dawn.
黎明時分，一對斑尾林鴿並肩坐在花園的籬笆上。
文法句型
a brace of + plural noun
用法筆記
This is an old-fashioned or specialist usage. Outside of hunting and formal writing, it is rarely used in everyday conversation. The modern English words 'pair' or 'couple' are far more common for general use.