curly bracket: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Technical, Academic
Quick answer
What does “curly bracket” mean?
The punctuation mark { or } used in pairs to enclose words or figures.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The punctuation mark { or } used in pairs to enclose words or figures.
In computing and mathematics, a curly bracket denotes a set, a block of code, or an interpolation point.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In British English, the term 'brace' or 'curly brace' is also used, especially in older or more formal technical contexts. American English strongly prefers 'curly bracket' in modern computing.
Connotations
In the UK, 'brace' might evoke traditional printing or mathematics, while 'curly bracket' feels more modern and computational.
Frequency
In the US, 'curly bracket' is the overwhelmingly dominant term in tech. In the UK, 'brace' retains some currency outside pure software development.
Grammar
How to Use “curly bracket” in a Sentence
to enclose X in curly bracketsthe curly bracket around Xa curly bracket denoting XVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “curly bracket” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- You must **brace** this section of the code properly.
- Remember to **bracket** the list.
American English
- You need to **bracket** that block with curly brackets.
- The function **wraps** the data in curly brackets.
adverb
British English
- The data is formatted **curly-bracket-wise**.
- Enclose it **brace-style**.
American English
- The code is structured **curly-bracket-first**.
- Format the JSON **curly-bracket-out**.
adjective
British English
- It's a **brace** notation.
- Follow the **curly-bracket** syntax.
American English
- This is **curly-bracket** territory.
- A **brace-delimited** block.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare, except in technical specifications or code documentation.
Academic
Common in computer science, formal logic, and mathematics papers.
Everyday
Virtually never used.
Technical
Ubiquitous in programming languages (C, Java, JavaScript, etc.), JSON, LaTeX, and markup.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “curly bracket”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “curly bracket”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “curly bracket”
- Misspelling as 'curley bracket'.
- Using a singular 'curly bracket' to refer to the pair. Typically, we refer to 'curly brackets' (plural).
- Confusing the symbols { } with ( ) or [ ].
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Curly brackets { } are typically used for sets, code blocks, or object literals, while parentheses ( ) are used for grouping, function arguments, or clarifications.
Because of their distinctive curved, swirling shape compared to the straight lines of square brackets [ ].
Extremely rarely. They are almost exclusively the domain of technical fields like programming, mathematics, and formal logic.
Hold the Shift key and press the square bracket keys [ or ]. On most QWERTY layouts, these are to the right of the 'P' key.
The punctuation mark { or } used in pairs to enclose words or figures.
Curly bracket is usually technical, academic in register.
Curly bracket: in British English it is pronounced /ˌkɜːli ˈbrækɪt/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌkɜːrli ˈbrækɪt/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “to think inside the curly brackets”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a curly-haired person giving a hug – the curly brackets { } hug a block of code.
Conceptual Metaphor
CONTAINER (the brackets contain elements), BLOCK DELIMITER (marks the beginning and end of a unit).
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is NOT a common synonym for 'curly bracket'?