brace
brace [brace braces braced bracing] noun, verb BrE [breɪs] NAmE [breɪs]
noun
1. countable a device that holds things firmly together or holds and supports them in position
•a neck brace (= worn to support the neck after an injury)
2. countable (NAmE braces plural)a metal device that children wear inside the mouth to help their teeth grow straight
•My daughter has to wear a brace on her teeth.
3. braces (BrE) (NAmE sus·pend·ers)plural long narrow pieces of cloth, leather, etc. for holding trousers/pants up. They are fastened to the top of the trousers/pants at the front and back and passed over the shoulders
•a pair of braces
4. (NAmE) (BrE cal·li·per)countable, usually plural a metal support for weak or injured legs
5. countable either of the two marks, {}, used to show that the words, etc. between them are connected
compare ↑bracket
6. countable (pl. brace)a pair of birds or animals that have been killed in hunting
•two brace of partridge(s)
•He scored a brace of goals.
see belt and braces at ↑belt n.
Word Origin:
Middle English (as a verb meaning ‘clasp, fasten tightly’): from Old French bracier ‘embrace’, from brace ‘two arms’, from Latin bracchia, plural of bracchium ‘arm’, from Greek brakhiōn.
Example Bank:
•He had braces on his teeth.
•I used to wear a brace.
•The braces held up his trousers.
verb
1. ~ sb/yourself (for sth) | ~ sb/yourself (to do sth) to prepare sb/yourself for sth difficult or unpleasant that is going to happen
•UN troops are braced for more violence.
•They are bracing themselves for a long legal battle.
2. ~ sth/yourself (against sth) to press your body or part of your body firmly against sth in order to stop yourself from falling
•They braced themselves against the wind.
3. ~ sth to contract the muscles in your body or part of your body before doing sth that is physically difficult
•He stood with his legs and shoulders braced, ready to lift the weights.
4. ~ sth (technical)to make sth stronger or more solid by supporting it with sth
•The roof was braced by lengths of timber.
Verb forms: 
Word Origin:
Middle English (as a verb meaning ‘clasp, fasten tightly’): from Old French bracier ‘embrace’, from brace ‘two arms’, from Latin bracchia, plural of bracchium ‘arm’, from Greek brakhiōn.
See also: ↑braces ▪ ↑calliper
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