Noun
a structural member used to stiffen a framework

Noun
the stock of a tool used for turning a drilling bit

Noun
an appliance that corrects dental irregularities

Noun
a support that steadies or strengthens something else; "he wore a brace on his knee"

Noun
elastic straps that hold trousers up (usually used in the plural)

Noun
a rope on a square-rigged ship that is used to swing a yard about and secure it

Noun
either of two punctuation marks ({ or }) used to enclose textual material

Noun
a set of two similar things considered as a unit

Noun
two items of the same kind

Verb
cause to be alert and energetic; "Coffee and tea stimulate me"; "This herbal infusion doesn''t stimulate"

Verb
support by bracing

Verb
support or hold steady and make steadfast, with or as if with a brace; "brace your elbows while working on the potter''s wheel"

Verb
prepare (oneself) for something unpleasant or difficult

n.
That which holds anything tightly or supports it firmly; a bandage or a prop.

n.
A cord, ligament, or rod, for producing or maintaining tension, as a cord on the side of a drum.

n.
The state of being braced or tight; tension.

n.
A piece of material used to transmit, or change the direction of, weight or pressure; any one of the pieces, in a frame or truss, which divide the structure into triangular parts. It may act as a tie, or as a strut, and serves to prevent distortion of the structure, and transverse strains in its members. A boiler brace is a diagonal stay, connecting the head with the shell.

n.
A vertical curved line connecting two or more words or lines, which are to be taken together; thus, boll, bowl; or, in music, used to connect staves.

n.
A rope reeved through a block at the end of a yard, by which the yard is moved horizontally; also, a rudder gudgeon.

n.
A curved instrument or handle of iron or wood, for holding and turning bits, etc.; a bitstock.

n.
A pair; a couple; as, a brace of ducks; now rarely applied to persons, except familiarly or with some contempt.

n.
Straps or bands to sustain trousers; suspenders.

n.
Harness; warlike preparation.

n.
Armor for the arm; vantbrace.

n.
The mouth of a shaft.

v. t.
To furnish with braces; to support; to prop; as, to brace a beam in a building.

v. t.
To draw tight; to tighten; to put in a state of tension; to strain; to strengthen; as, to brace the nerves.

v. t.
To bind or tie closely; to fasten tightly.

v. t.
To place in a position for resisting pressure; to hold firmly; as, he braced himself against the crowd.

v. t.
To move around by means of braces; as, to brace the yards.

v. i.
To get tone or vigor; to rouse one's energies; -- with up.

Brace

The little bones of the ear drum do in straining and relaxing it as the braces of the war drum do in that.

The laxness of the tympanum, when it has lost its brace or tension.

He is said to have shot . . . fifty brace of pheasants.

A brace of brethren, both bishops, both eminent for learning and religion, now appeared in the church.

But you, my brace of lords.

I embroidered for you a beautiful pair of braces.

For that it stands not in such warlike brace.

Brace

And welcome war to brace her drums.

The women of China, by bracing and binding them from their infancy, have very little feet.

Some who spurs had first braced on.

A sturdy lance in his right hand he braced.

Brace

That which holds anything tightly or supports it firmly; a bandage or a prop.

To furnish with braces; to support; to prop; as, to brace a beam in a building.

To get tone or vigor; to rouse one's energies; -with up.