1
- a device that clamps things tightly together or that gives support, in particular支柱, 托架, 夹头, 尤指：
1.1
braces
Brit. a pair of straps that pass over the shoulders and fasten to the top of trousers at the front and back to hold them〈英〉（裤子的）背带。
1.2
- a device fitted to a weak or injured part of the body, such as the neck or leg, to give support（用以支承病体或身体受伤部位的）梏具。
1.3
- a wire device fitted in the mouth to straighten the teeth畸齿矫正钢丝架。
1.4
- a strengthening piece of iron or timber used in building or carpentry（建筑或木工用的铁制或木制）支柱, 撑柱。
1.5
- （亦作brace and bit）a drilling tool with a crank handle and a socket to hold a bit手摇曲柄钻。
1.6
- a rope attached to the yard of a ship for trimming the sail（船上的）转帆索。
2
- （复同单）a pair of something, typically of birds or mammals killed in hunting（尤指鸟或哺乳动物等已被猎杀的猎物）一对, 一双：
thirty brace of grouse.
30对松鸡。
3
- Printing either of the two marks {and}, used either to indicate that two or more items on one side have the same relationship as each other to the single item to which the other side points, or in pairs to show that words between them are connected【印刷】大括弧（即{ }）。
3.1
- Music a similar mark connecting staves to be performed at the same time【乐】连谱号。
with obj.
1- make (a structure) stronger or firmer with wood, iron, or other forms of support支撑, 使固定, 使稳固; 把…绷紧：
the posts were braced by lengths of timber.
这些柱子用几根木头撑着。
1.1
- press (one's body or part of one's body) firmly against something in order to stay balanced撑牢, 站稳：
she braced her feet against a projecting shelf
她把脚踩在一块突出来的岩石上站稳
as adj. braced he stood with legs braced.他叉开双腿站稳。
1.2
- prepare (someone or oneself) for something difficult or unpleasant（使）作好防备：
both stations are bracing themselves for job losses.
两个电台都在为就业岗位减少作准备。
词源
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.
短语动词
brace up
- be strong or courageous坚强起来; 鼓起勇气。