1. [n]  a structural member used to stiffen a framework
2. [n]  the stock of a tool used for turning a drilling bit
3. [n]  an appliance that corrects dental irregularities
4. [n]  a support that steadies or strengthens something else; "he wore a brace on his knee"
5. [n]  elastic straps that hold trousers up (usually used in the plural)
6. [n]  a rope on a square-rigged ship that is used to swing a yard about and secure it
7. [n]  either of two punctuation marks ({ or }) used to enclose textual material
8. [n]  a set of two similar things considered as a unit
9. [n]  two items of the same kind
10. [v]  cause to be alert and energetic; "Coffee and tea stimulate me"; "This herbal infusion doesn't stimulate"
11. [v]  support by bracing
12. [v]  support or hold steady and make steadfast, with or as if with a brace; "brace your elbows while working on the potter's wheel"
13. [v]  prepare (oneself) for something unpleasant or difficult

1. \Brace\, n. [OF. brace, brasse, the two arms, embrace,
   fathom, F. brasse fathom, fr. L. bracchia the arms (stretched
   out), pl. of bracchium arm; cf. Gr. ?.]
   1. That which holds anything tightly or supports it firmly; a
      bandage or a prop.
   2. A cord, ligament, or rod, for producing or maintaining
      tension, as a cord on the side of a drum.
            The little bones of the ear drum do in straining and
            relaxing it as the braces of the war drum do in
            that.                                 --Derham.
   3. The state of being braced or tight; tension.
            The laxness of the tympanum, when it has lost its
            brace or tension.                     --Holder.
   4. (Arch. & Engin.) 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.
   5. (Print.) 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.
   6. (Naut.) A rope reeved through a block at the end of a
      yard, by which the yard is moved horizontally; also, a
      rudder gudgeon.
   7. (Mech.) A curved instrument or handle of iron or wood, for
      holding and turning bits, etc.; a bitstock.
   8. A pair; a couple; as, a brace of ducks; now rarely applied
      to persons, except familiarly or with some contempt. ``A
      brace of greyhounds.'' --Shak.
            He is said to have shot . . . fifty brace of
            pheasants.                            --Addison.
            A brace of brethren, both bishops, both eminent for
            learning and religion, now appeared in the church.
                                                  --Fuller.
            But you, my brace of lords.           --Shak.
   9. pl. Straps or bands to sustain trousers; suspenders.
            I embroidered for you a beautiful pair of braces.
                                                  --Thackeray.
   10. Harness; warlike preparation. [Obs.]
             For that it stands not in such warlike brace.
                                                  --Shak.
   11. Armor for the arm; vantbrace.
   12. (Mining) The mouth of a shaft. [Cornwall]
   {Angle brace}. See under {Angle}.
   

2. \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.
   

3. \Brace\, v. i.
   To get tone or vigor; to rouse one's energies; -- with up.
   [Colloq.]
   

left brace or right brace.