Adjacent Words

Embrace definitions

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Webster's 1828 Dictionary

EMBRA'CE, v.t.
1. To take, clasp or inclose in the arms; to press to the bosom, in token of affection.
Paul called to him the disciples and embraced them. Acts 20.
2. To seize eagerly; to lay hold on; to receive or take with willingness that which is offered; as, to embrace the christian religion; to embrace the opportunity of doing a favor.
3. To comprehend; to include or take in; as, natural philosophy embraces many sciences.
4. To comprise; to inclose;to encompass; to contain; to encircle.
Low at his feet a spacious plain is placed,
Between the mountain and the stream embraced.
5. To receive; to admit.
6. To find; to take; to accept.
Fleance--must embrace the fate
Of that dark hour.
7. To have carnal intercourse with.
8. To put on.
9. To attempt to influence a jury corruptly.
EMBRA'CE, v.i. To join in an embrace.
EMBRA'CE, n. Inclosure or clasp with the arms; pressure to the bosom with the arms.
1. Reception of one thing into another.
2. Sexual intercourse; conjugal endearment.

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

n
1: the act of clasping another person in the arms (as in greeting or affection) [syn: embrace, embracing, embracement]
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" [syn: embrace, bosom] v
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" [syn: embrace, encompass, comprehend, cover]
2: squeeze (someone) tightly in your arms, usually with fondness; "Hug me, please"; "They embraced"; "He hugged her close to him" [syn: embrace, hug, bosom, squeeze]
3: take up the cause, ideology, practice, method, of someone and use it as one's own; "She embraced Catholicism"; "They adopted the Jewish faith" [syn: espouse, embrace, adopt, sweep up]

Merriam Webster's

I. verb (embraced; embracing) Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French embracer, from en- + brace pair of arms — more at brace Date: 14th century transitive verb 1. a. to clasp in the arms ; hug b. cherish, love 2. encircle, enclose 3. a. to take up especially readily or gladly <embrace a cause> b. to avail oneself of ; welcome <embraced the opportunity to study further> 4. a. to take in or include as a part, item, or element of a more inclusive whole <charity embraces all acts that contribute to human welfare> b. to be equal or equivalent to <his assets embraced $10> intransitive verb to participate in an embrace Synonyms: see adopt, include • embraceable adjective • embracement noun • embracer noun • embracingly adverb II. noun Date: 1592 1. a close encircling with the arms and pressure to the chest especially as a sign of affection ; hug 2. grip, encirclement <in the embrace of terror> 3. acceptance <her embrace of new ideas>

Oxford Reference Dictionary

v. & n. --v.tr. 1 a hold (a person) closely in the arms, esp. as a sign of affection. b (absol., of two people) hold each other closely. 2 clasp, enclose. 3 accept eagerly (an offer, opportunity, etc.). 4 adopt (a course of action, doctrine, cause, etc.). 5 include, comprise. 6 take in with the eye or mind. --n. an act of embracing; holding in the arms. Derivatives: embraceable adj. embracement n. embracer n. Etymology: ME f. OF embracer, ult. f. L in- IN-(1) + bracchium arm

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Embrace Em*brace", v. t. [Pref. em- (intens.) + brace, v. t.] To fasten on, as armor. [Obs.] --Spenser.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Embrace Em*brace", v. i. To join in an embrace.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Embrace Em*brace", n. Intimate or close encircling with the arms; pressure to the bosom; clasp; hug. We stood tranced in long embraces, Mixed with kisses. --Tennyson.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Embrace Em*brace", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Embraced; p. pr. & vb. n. Embracing.] [OE. embracier, F. embrasser; pref. em- (L. in) + F. bras arm. See Brace, n.] 1. To clasp in the arms with affection; to take in the arms; to hug. I will embrace him with a soldier's arm, That he shall shrink under my courtesy. --Shak. Paul called unto him the disciples, and embraced them. --Acts xx. 1. 2. To cling to; to cherish; to love. --Shak. 3. To seize eagerly, or with alacrity; to accept with cordiality; to welcome. ``I embrace these conditions.'' ``You embrace the occasion.'' --Shak. What is there that he may not embrace for truth? --Locke. 4. To encircle; to encompass; to inclose. Low at his feet a spacious plain is placed, Between the mountain and the stream embraced. --Denham. 5. To include as parts of a whole; to comprehend; to take in; as, natural philosophy embraces many sciences. Not that my song, in such a scanty space, So large a subject fully can embrace. --Dryden.

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

(embraces, embracing, embraced) 1. 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. Penelope came forward and embraced her sister... At first people were sort of crying for joy and embracing each other... He threw his arms round her and they embraced passionately. = hug V-RECIP: V n (non-recip), V n (non-recip), pl-n V • Embrace is also a noun. ...a young couple locked in an embrace. N-COUNT 2. If you embrace a change, political system, or idea, you accept it and start supporting it or believing in it. (FORMAL) He embraces the new information age... The new rules have been embraced by government watchdog organizations. VERB: V n, V n • Embrace is also a noun. The marriage signalled James's embrace of the Catholic faith. N-SING: usu with supp 3. If something embraces a group of people, things, or ideas, it includes them in a larger group or category. (FORMAL) ...a theory that would embrace the whole field of human endeavour. VERB: V n

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

em-bras': The word has two distinct meanings in the Old Testament:

(1) to clasp and hold fondly in the arms, pointing to a common custom (Ge 29:13; 33:4; 48:10; 2Ki 4:16; So 2:6; 8:3 compare Ac 20:10), and

(2) to have sexual intercourse (Pr 4:8; 5:20; Ec 3:5). It seems to have acquired this technical sense in later Jewish usage.

Soule's Dictionary of English Synonyms

I. v. a. 1. Clasp in the arms, hug, press to the bosom, fold to the heart. 2. Welcome, seize, accept, lay hold on, accept eagerly. 3. Comprehend, include, cover, contain, comprise, enclose, encompass, encircle, embody, take in. II. n. Hug, clasp.

Moby Thesaurus

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