braces

/ˈbreɪsɪz/
verb
  1. Third person singular present of brace: prepares oneself for something difficult or supports something.
    • He braces his legs to keep from slipping on the ice.
    • She braces herself before every big presentation.
    • The frame braces the structure against strong winds.
noun
  1. Devices worn on the teeth to correct their alignment.
    • The orthodontist tightened her braces at the monthly appointment.
    • She got braces when she was twelve to straighten her teeth.
    • He has to wear braces for two years to fix his bite.
  2. A pair of straps worn over the shoulders to hold up trousers; suspenders.
    • The old man's trousers were held up by a pair of leather braces.
    • Braces are more common in formal wear than in casual outfits.
    • He wore red braces with his suit for a vintage look.
  3. Metal supports used to strengthen or hold something in place.
    • The broken leg was held together with external braces.
    • The bookshelf had metal braces on the back to keep it from wobbling.
    • The construction workers installed steel braces to support the roof.
  4. Curly brackets { } used in writing, mathematics, or computing.
    • The teacher explained how to use braces in set notation.
    • In programming, code blocks are often enclosed in braces.
    • Please put the list of items inside braces in your document.
What does "braces" mean? | whatsthatwordmean | whatsthatwordmean