Definition of 'embrace'
Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular present tense embraces, present participle embracing, past tense, past participle embraced
1. reciprocal verb
If you embrace someone, you put your arms around them and hold them tightly, usually in order to
show your love or affection for them. You can also say that two people embrace.
2. transitive verb
If you embrace a change, political system, or idea, you accept it and start supporting it or believing
in it.
[formal]
3. transitive 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 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
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
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.
Browse alphabetically
embrace
Related terms of
embrace
Source
Definition of embrace from the Collins English Dictionary
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