brace
B2Neutral to formal. Common in technical and medical contexts.
Definition
Meaning
To make something stronger or more stable; to prepare or steady yourself for something difficult.
A pair of similar things, especially animals or birds; a device that clamps, fastens, supports, or aligns parts (e.g., in construction, dentistry, or orthopaedics); a wire frame for straightening teeth; either of two marks { } used to connect lines of text or music; a supporting diagonal piece in a structure.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The meaning shifts significantly by part of speech: noun meanings are often concrete objects (support, clamp, pair), while verb meanings are actions (support, steady, prepare).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Minimal. 'Brace' for the punctuation mark { } is standard in both. In orthodontics, 'braces' (plural) is standard; UK may also use 'dental brace'.
Connotations
Similarly neutral/technical. 'Brace yourself' is equally idiomatic.
Frequency
Slightly more frequent in US English due to wider use in construction ('angle brace') and orthodontics marketing.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
brace yourself for + NOUN/VERB-ing (e.g., for impact, for bad news)brace + NOUN + against + NOUN (e.g., brace the ladder against the wall)brace + [body part] (e.g., He braced his foot against the rock.)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Brace yourself (for something)”
- “A brace of (e.g., a brace of grouse)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare. 'Brace for' in forecasts (e.g., 'Investors should brace for volatility').
Academic
Common in engineering, dentistry, and linguistics (punctuation).
Everyday
Most common in the idiom 'brace yourself' and in medical contexts (knee/back braces).
Technical
High frequency: structural braces in engineering/construction, orthodontic braces, punctuation braces in computing/typography.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- He braced himself for the oncoming storm.
- The timber was braced with metal brackets.
- Brace yourself, the results are not good.
American English
- Brace for impact!
- We need to brace the foundation before the hurricane.
- She braced her hands on the desk.
adverb
British English
- N/A (no standard adverbial use).
American English
- N/A (no standard adverbial use).
adjective
British English
- N/A (no standard adjectival use).
American English
- N/A (no standard adjectival use).
Examples
By CEFR Level
- He wore a brace on his knee.
- These are curly braces: { }.
- Brace yourself, the doctor will give you an injection.
- The builder added a brace to make the wall stronger.
- The company is bracing for significant losses this quarter.
- After the accident, she had to wear a neck brace for six weeks.
- The syntax requires the code block to be enclosed in braces.
- The old tower was braced with steel cables to prevent collapse.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a BRACElet: it encircles and supports your wrist, just as a BRACE supports a structure or a body part.
Conceptual Metaphor
STRENGTH IS PHYSICAL SUPPORT (to brace is to provide mental or physical support against pressure).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Не переводить всегда как 'скобка'. 'Brace yourself' = 'приготовься/соберись', а не 'поддержи себя'.
- В значении 'пара' (a brace of pheasants) — устаревшее/специальное, не general 'пара'.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'bracket' for the punctuation mark { } (in computing, 'brace' is correct).
- Confusing 'to brace' with 'to embrace'.
- Using singular 'brace' for orthodontic devices (correct: 'braces').
Practice
Quiz
In which context would you MOST LIKELY hear 'a brace of'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, almost always. 'Dental braces' or just 'braces' is the standard term. The singular 'brace' is rarely used in this context.
In computing and typography, 'brace' or 'curly brace' refers specifically to { }. 'Bracket' is a broader term that can include parentheses ( ), square brackets [ ], and sometimes curly braces, but precise technical language distinguishes them.
Its core meaning of 'strengthen' is positive, but its most common idiomatic use ('brace yourself') implies preparing for something negative or challenging.
It is neutral. It can be technical/formal in engineering or medical contexts, but the phrase 'brace yourself' is common in everyday spoken English.