frequently_asked_questions_files/Oxford Thesaurus.pdf

ace n. 1 bracket, stiffener, reinforcement, reinforcer, support,
buttress, prop, stay, strut, truss: Two steel braces have been
installed to steady the columns. 2 drill: He bored three holes
in the wood with his brace and auger. 3 clasp, clamp, buckle,
fastener, clip, holdfast, catch, coupler, coupling: Another
brace will be needed here to strengthen the handle. 4 pair;
couple, span, team (of two): A brace of duelling pistols was
sold at auction last week for œ20,000. Her carriage was drawn by
a brace of palominos.
--v. 5 steady, reinforce, support, strengthen, prop or shore
up: Iron bars are used to brace the arches. 6 brace oneself.
steady or gird or prepare oneself; hold or hang on: I braced
myself against the likelihood that she would refuse.
bracing adj. invigorating, tonic, stimulating, refreshing,
exhilarating, fortifying, restorative: I cannot live in the
tropics and need the more bracing climate of the north.
bracket n. 1 support, corbel, console: The mantelpiece rests on a pair
of stone brackets. 2 shelf: Her collection of glass
paperweights was arrayed on a bracket in the sitting-room. 3
category, class, set, group, grouping, classification, division,
level; order, grade, rank: He comes from an altogether
different bracket of society.
--v. 4 classify, rank, group; unite, combine, join, link: I
wish you wouldn't bracket her with me - our politics are as
different as day and night.
brag v. boast, crow, trumpet, vaunt, strut, swagger, show off,
Colloq talk big, blow or toot one's own horn or trumpet, go on
about: He's always bragging about what he did in the war.
braggart n. boaster, bragger, braggadocio, windbag, peacock, show-off,
Scaramouch or Scaramouche, Slang big-mouth, loud-mouth, gasbag:
That braggart William Smith talks about himself incessantly.
braid n. 1 plait: Katrina wore her blond hair in a tightly coiled
braid on top of her head. 2 trimming, embroidery, soutache,
lace, fillet, band, ribbon: The edges are decorated with narrow
braid containing gold thread.