4  definitions  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Brace  \Brace\,  v.  t.  [imp.  &  p.  p.  {Braced};  p.  pr  &  vb  n. 
  {Bracing}.] 
  1.  To  furnish  with  braces;  to  support;  to  prop;  as  to  brace 
  a  beam  in  a  building. 
 
  2.  To  draw  tight;  to  tighten;  to  put  in  a  state  of  tension; 
  to  strain;  to  strengthen;  as  to  brace  the  nerves. 
 
  And  welcome  war  to  brace  her  drums.  --Campbell. 
 
  3.  To  bind  or  tie  closely;  to  fasten  tightly. 
 
  The  women  of  China,  by  bracing  and  binding  them  from 
  their  infancy,  have  very  little  feet.  --Locke. 
 
  Some  who  spurs  had  first  braced  on  --Sir  W. 
  Scott. 
 
  4.  To  place  in  a  position  for  resisting  pressure;  to  hold 
  firmly;  as  he  braced  himself  against  the  crowd. 
 
  A  sturdy  lance  in  his  right  hand  he  braced. 
  --Fairfax. 
 
  5.  (Naut.)  To  move  around  by  means  of  braces;  as  to  brace 
  the  yards. 
 
  {To  brace  about}  (Naut.),  to  turn  (a  yard)  round  for  the 
  contrary  tack. 
 
  {To  brace  a  yard}  (Naut.),  to  move  it  horizontally  by  means 
  of  a  brace. 
 
  {To  brace  in}  (Naut.),  to  turn  (a  yard)  by  hauling  in  the 
  weather  brace. 
 
  {To  brace  one's  self},  to  call  up  one's  energies.  ``He  braced 
  himself  for  an  effort  which  he  was  little  able  to  make.'' 
  --J.  D.  Forbes. 
 
  {To  brace  to}  (Naut.),  to  turn  (a  yard)  by  checking  or  easing 
  off  the  lee  brace,  and  hauling  in  the  weather  one  to 
  assist  in  tacking. 
 
  {To  brace  up}  (Naut.),  to  bring  (a  yard)  nearer  the  direction 
  of  the  keel  by  hauling  in  the  lee  brace. 
 
  {To  brace  up  sharp}  (Naut.),  to  turn  (a  yard)  as  far  forward 
  as  the  rigging  will  permit. 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Bracing  \Bra"cing\,  a. 
  Imparting  strength  or  tone;  strengthening;  invigorating;  as 
  a  bracing  north  wind. 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Bracing  \Bra"cing\,  n. 
  1.  The  act  of  strengthening,  supporting,  or  propping,  with  a 
  brace  or  braces;  the  state  of  being  braced. 
 
  2.  (Engin.)  Any  system  of  braces;  braces,  collectively;  as 
  the  bracing  of  a  truss. 
 
  From  WordNet  r  1.6  [wn]: 
 
  bracing 
  adj  :  imparting  vitality  and  energy;  "the  bracing  mountain  air" 
  [syn:  {brisk},  {energizing},  {fresh},  {refreshing},  {refreshful}, 
  {tonic}] 
  n  :  a  structural  member  used  to  stiffen  a  framework  [syn:  {brace}] 

browse words by letter
a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z
or search   thesauri dictionary search words