brace
/bɹeɪs/ verb C2- To prepare for something bad, such as an impact or blow. · All hands, brace for impact!· Brace yourself!
- To place in a position for resisting pressure; to hold firmly. · He braced himself against the crowd.· She braced her back against the wall.
- To swing round the yards of a square rigged ship, using braces, to present a more efficient sail surface to the direction of the wind. · to brace the yards
- To stop someone for questioning, usually said of police.
- To confront with questions, demands or requests.
- To furnish with braces; to support; to prop. · to brace a beam in a building
- To draw tight; to tighten; to put in a state of tension; to strain; to strengthen. · to brace the nerves
- To bind or tie closely; to fasten tightly.
He/she/it braces · Past braced · Past participle braced · -ing form bracing
Verb forms
- Base form
- brace
- He/she/it
- braces
- Past
- braced
- Past participle
- braced
- -ing form
- bracing
Phrasal verbs and expressions
From the library
The head was lying a little clear of the water jar, under the curve of it; and, as his teeth met, Rikki braced his back against the bulge of the red earthenware to hold down the head.
He was within three yards of us, this sinister figure, and I had braced myself to meet his spring, before I realized that he had no idea of our presence.
‘Take in two reefs in the top-sails,’ cried the captain; ‘let go the bowlin’s, haul the brace, lower the top-gallant sails, haul out the reef-tackles on the yards.’”
‘Ah,’ said I, after four hours’ work, ‘since we are sinking, let us sink; we can die but once.’ ‘Is that the example you set, Penelon?’ cries the captain; ‘very well, wait a minute.’ He went into his cabin and came back with a brace of pistols.
Other matches
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