Definition of 'embrace'
Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular present tense embraces
, present participle embracing
, past tense, past participle embraced
1. verb
Embrace is also a noun.
2. verb
If you embrace a change, political system, or idea, you accept it and start supporting it or believing in it.
[formal]
Embrace is also a noun.
3. verb
If something embraces a group of people, things, or ideas, it includes them in a larger group or category.
[formal]
Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers
British English pronunciation
American English pronunciation
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Word Frequency
embrace in British English 1
verb (mainly tr)
1. (also intr)
2.
Collins English Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers
Derived forms
embraceable (emˈbraceable) adjective
embracement (emˈbracement)
noun
embracer (emˈbracer)
noun
Word origin
C14: from Old French embracier, from em- + brace a pair of arms, from Latin bracchia arms
Word Frequency
embrace in American English 1
verb transitiveWord forms: emˈbraced or emˈbracing
1.
to clasp in the arms, usually as an expression of affection or desire; hug
5.
to include; contain
biology embraces botany and zoology
verb intransitive
7.
to clasp or hug each other in the arms
noun
8.
an embracing; hug
SIMILAR WORDS: inˈclude
Webster’s New World College Dictionary, 4th Edition. Copyright © 2010 by
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. All rights reserved.
Derived forms
embraceable (emˈbraceable)
adjective
embracement (emˈbracement)
noun
embracer (emˈbracer)
noun
Word Frequency
embrace in American English 2
verb transitiveWord forms: emˈbraced or emˈbracing
Webster’s New World College Dictionary, 4th Edition. Copyright © 2010 by
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. All rights reserved.
Word origin
ME embrasen < OFr embraser, to set on fire, incite < en-, in + braise, live coals: see braiseWord Frequency
embrace in American English 1
(emˈbreis) (verb -braced, -bracing)
transitive verb
3.
to avail oneself of
to embrace an opportunity
6.
to encircle; surround; enclose
7.
to include or contain
An encyclopedia embraces a great number of subjects
noun
SYNONYMS 2. adopt, espouse, welcome. 3. seize. 7. comprise, cover, embody. See include.ANTONYMS 7. exclude.9.
an act or instance of embracing
Most material © 2005, 1997, 1991 by Penguin Random House LLC. Modified entries © 2019
by Penguin Random House LLC and HarperCollins Publishers Ltd
Derived forms
embraceable adjective
embracement
noun
embracer
noun
Word origin
[1300–50; ME ‹ AF, OF embracier, equiv. to em- em-1 + bracier to embrace, deriv. of brace the two arms; see brace]Word Frequency
embrace in American English 2
(emˈbreis)
transitive verbWord forms: -braced, -bracing
Most material © 2005, 1997, 1991 by Penguin Random House LLC. Modified entries © 2019
by Penguin Random House LLC and HarperCollins Publishers Ltd
Derived forms
embracer noun
Examples of 'embrace' in a sentence
embrace
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In other languages
embrace
British English: embrace
VERB /ɪmˈbreɪs/
If you embrace someone, you put your arms around them and hold them tightly. You can also say that two people embrace.
She came forward and embraced her sister.
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embrace
Related terms of
embrace
Source
Definition of embrace from the Collins English Dictionary
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