Brace

GRE 考研

[编辑] 解释

I. verb (braced; bracing)

Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French bracer to embrace, from brace
Date: 14th century
transitive verb
- 1. archaic to fasten tightly ; bind
- 2.
  - a. to prepare for use by making taut
  - b. prepare, steel <brace yourself for the shock>
  - c. invigorate, freshen
- 3. to turn (a sail yard) by means of a brace
- 4.
  - a. to furnish or support with a brace <heavily braced against the wind>
  - b. to make stronger ; reinforce
- 5. to put or plant firmly <braces his foot in the stirrup>
- 6. to waylay especially with demands or questions
intransitive verb
- 1. to take heart — used with up
- 2. to get ready (as for an attack)

II. noun (plural braces)

Etymology: Middle English, clasp, pair, from Anglo-French, pair of arms, pair, support, from Latin bracchia, plural of bracchium arm, from Greek brachiōn, from comparative of brachys short — more at brief
Date: 14th century
1. something (as a clasp) that connects or fastens
2. or plural brace two of a kind ; pair <several brace of quail>
3. a crank-shaped instrument for turning a bit
4. something that transmits, directs, resists, or supports weight or pressure: as
- a. a diagonal piece of structural material that serves to strengthen something (as a framework)
- b. a rope rove through a block at the end of a ship's yard to swing it horizontally
- c. plural suspenders
- d. an appliance for supporting a body part
- e. plural an orthodontic appliance usually of metallic wire that is used especially to exert pressure to straighten misaligned teeth
5.
- a. one of two marks { } used to connect words or items to be considered together
- b. one of these marks connecting two or more musical staffs carrying parts to be performed simultaneously
- c. bracket 3a
6. a position of rigid attention
7. something that arouses energy or strengthens morale