Link Centre Dictionary

embrace

emb·race

UK/ɛmˈbɹes/ US/ɛmˈbɹeɪs/ common
verb (3) noun (3)

verb

1.

include in scope; include as part of something broader; have as one''s sphere or territory

  • “This group encompasses a wide range of people from different backgrounds”
  • “this should cover everyone in the group”
Synonyms
2.

hug, usually with fondness

  • “Hug me, please”
  • “They embraced”
Synonyms
3.

take up the cause, ideology, practice, method, of someone and use it as one''s own

  • “She embraced Catholocism”
  • “They adopted the Jewish faith”
Synonyms

noun

1.

the act of clasping another person in the arms (as in greeting or affection)

Synonyms
2.

the state of taking in or encircling

  • “an island in the embrace of the sea”
3.

a close affectionate and protective acceptance

  • “his willing embrace of new ideas”
  • “in the bosom of the family”
Synonyms

Origin

The verb is derived from Middle English embracen (“to clasp in one's arms, embrace; to reach out eagerly for, welcome; to enfold, entwine; to ensnare, entangle; to twist, wrap around; to gird, put on; to lace; to be in or put into bonds; to put a shield on the arm; to grasp (a shield or spear); to acquire, take hold of; to receive; to undertake; to affect, influence; to incite; to unlawfully influence a jury; to surround; to conceal, cover; to shelter; to protect; to comfort; to comprehend, understand”) [and other forms], from Old French embracer, embracier (“to kiss”) (modern French embrasser (“to kiss; (dated) to embrace, hug”)), from Late Latin *imbracchiāre, from in- (prefix meaning ‘in, inside, within’)) + bracchium (“arm”). The English word is analysable as em- + brace. The noun is derived from the verb.

Phrases

  • deadly embrace
  • embrace the penguin
  • embrace the suck
  • embrace, extend and extinguish
  • marital embrace

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Word family

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WordNet 2.1 (Princeton University). Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). CMU Pronouncing Dictionary. WordNet 2.1 Copyright Princeton University. All rights reserved. Wiktionary content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike Licence.