brace

Universal Words noun, verb noun 1 [C] 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 [C] (AmE braces [pl.]) 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) (AmE suspenders) [pl.] straps 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 [C,usually pl.] (AmE) = CALLIPER 5 [C] either of the two marks, , used to show that the words, etc. between them are connected compareBRACKET 6 [C] (plural brace) a pair of birds or animals that have been killed in hunting: two brace of partridge(s) * He scored a brace of goals. IDIOMS see BELTn. verb 1 ~ sb / yourself (for sth) to prepare sb/yourself for sth difficult or unpleasant that is going to happen: [VN] UN troops are braced for more violence. * They are bracing themselves for a long legal battle. [also VNtoinf] 2 [VN] ~ 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 [VN] to tighten 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 [VN] (technical) to make sth stronger or more solid by supporting it with sth: The roof was braced by lengths of timber.