Brack - Brake

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Brack (brăk), n. [Cf.D. braak, Dan. bræk, a breaking, Sw. & Icel. brak a crackling, creaking. Cf. .] An opening caused by the parting of any solid body; a crack or breach; a flaw.
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Stain or brack in her sweet reputation. J. Fletcher.
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Brack, n. [D. brak, adj., salt; cf. LG. wrak refuse, G. brack.] Salt or brackish water. [Obs.] Drayton.
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Bracken (�), n. [OE. braken, AS. bracce. See , n.] A brake or fern. Sir W. Scott.
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Bracket (�), n. [Cf. OF. braguette codpiece, F. brayette, Sp. bragueta, also a projecting mold in architecture; dim. fr. L. bracae breeches; cf. also, OF. bracon beam, prop, support; of unknown origin. Cf. .]
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1. (Arch.) An architectural member, plain or ornamental, projecting from a wall or pier, to support weight falling outside of the same; also, a decorative feature seeming to discharge such an office.
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☞ This is the more general word. See , , , , .
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2. (Engin. & Mech.) A piece or combination of pieces, usually triangular in general shape, projecting from, or fastened to, a wall, or other surface, to support heavy bodies or to strengthen angles.
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3. (Naut.) A shot, crooked timber, resembling a knee, used as a support.
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4. (Mil.) The cheek or side of an ordnance carriage.
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5. (Print.) One of two characters [], used to inclose a reference, explanation, or note, or a part to be excluded from a sentence, to indicate an interpolation, to rectify a mistake, or to supply an omission, and for certain other purposes; -- called also crotchet.
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6. A gas fixture or lamp holder projecting from the face of a wall, column, or the like.
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7. (Gunnery) A figure determined by firing a projectile beyond a target and another short of it, as a basis for ascertaining the proper elevation of the piece; -- only used in the phrase, to establish a bracket. After the bracket is established shots are fired with intermediate elevations until the exact range is obtained. In the United States navy it is called fork.
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Coloq. Bracket light , a gas fixture or a lamp attached to a wall, column, etc.
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Bracket, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Bracketed; p. pr. & vb. n. Bracketing] 1. To place within brackets; to connect by brackets; to furnish with brackets.
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2. (Gunnery) To shoot so as to establish a bracket for (an object).
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Bracketing, n. (Arch.) A series or group of brackets; brackets, collectively.
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Brackish (�), a. [See salt water.] Saltish, or salt in a moderate degree, as water in saline soil.
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Springs in deserts found seem sweet, all brackish though they be. Byron.
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Brackishness, n. The quality or state of being brackish, or somewhat salt.
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Bracky (�), a. Brackish. Drayton.
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Bract (�), n. [See .] (Bot.) (a) A leaf, usually smaller than the true leaves of a plant, from the axil of which a flower stalk arises. (b) Any modified leaf, or scale, on a flower stalk or at the base of a flower.
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☞ Bracts are often inconspicuous, but sometimes large and showy, or highly colored, as in many cactaceous plants. The spathes of aroid plants are conspicuous forms of bracts.
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Bractea (�), n. [L., a thin plate of metal or wood, gold foil.] (Bot.) A bract.
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Bracteal (�), a. [Cf.F. bractéal.] Having the nature or appearance of a bract.
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Bracteate (�), a. [Cf. L. bracteatus covered with gold plate.] (Bot.) Having a bract or bracts.
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Bracted (�), a. (Bot.) Furnished with bracts.
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Bracteolate (�), a. (Bot.) Furnished with bracteoles or bractlets.
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Bracteole (�), n. [L. bracteola, dim. of bractea. See .] (Bot.) Same as .
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Bractless, a. (Bot.) Destitute of bracts.
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Bractlet (�), n. [Bract + -let] (Bot.) A bract on the stalk of a single flower, which is itself on a main stalk that support several flowers. Gray.
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Brad (�), n. [Cf. OE. brod, Dan. braad prick, sting, brodde ice spur, frost nail, Sw. brodd frost nail, Icel. broddr any pointed piece of iron or stell; akin to AS. brord point, spire of grass, and perh. to E. bristle. See , n.] A thin nail, usually small, with a slight projection at the top on one side instead of a head; also, a small wire nail, with a flat circular head; sometimes, a small, tapering, square-bodied finishing nail, with a countersunk head.
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Brad awl (�). A straight awl with chisel edge, used to make holes for brads, etc. Weale.
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Bradoon (�), n. Same as .
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bradykinin n. a hypotensive tissue hormone (C50H73N15O11) which acts on smooth muscle, dilates peripheral vessels and increases capillary permeability. It is formed locally in injured tissue and is believed to play a role in the inflammatory process. It is a nonapeptide with the sequence: Arg-Pro-Pro-Gly-Phe-Ser-Pro-Phe-Arg. MI11
Syn. -- kallidin I; callidin I; kallidin-9.
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Bradypodidae n. a natural family comprising the true sloths.
Syn. -- family Bradypodidae.
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Bradypus n. type genus of the Bradypodidae, comprising the three-toed sloths.
Syn. -- genus Bradypus.
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Brae (�), n. [See a hill.] A hillside; a slope; a bank; a hill. [Scot.] Burns.
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Brag (�), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Bragged (�); p. pr. & vb. n. Bragging.] [OE. braggen to resound, blow, boast (cf. F. braguer to lead a merry life, flaunt, boast, OF. brague merriment), from Icel. braka to creak, brak noise, fr. the same root as E. break; properly then, to make a noise, boast. � .] To talk about one's self, or things pertaining to one's self, in a manner intended to excite admiration, envy, or wonder; to talk boastfully; to boast; -- often followed by of; as, to brag of one's exploits, courage, or money, or of the great things one intends to do.
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Conceit, more rich in matter than in words,
Brags of his substance, not of ornament. Shak.
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Syn. -- To swagger; boast; vapor; bluster; vaunt; flourish; talk big.
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Brag, v. t. To boast of. [Obs.] Shak.
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Brag, n. 1. A boast or boasting; bragging; ostentatious pretense or self glorification.
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Cæsar . . . made not here his brag
Of “came,” and “saw,” and “overcame.” Shak.
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2. The thing which is boasted of.
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Beauty is Nature's brag. Milton.
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3. A game at cards similar to bluff. Chesterfield.
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Brag (�), a. [See , v. i.] Brisk; full of spirits; boasting; pretentious; conceited. [Archaic]
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A brag young fellow. B. Jonson.
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Brag, adv. Proudly; boastfully. [Obs.] Fuller.
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Brage n. (Norse mythol.) the Norse god of poetry and music; a son of Odin.
Syn. -- Bragi.
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Braggadocio (�), n. [From Braggadocchio, a boastful character in Spenser's “Faërie Queene.”] 1. A braggart; a boaster; a swaggerer. Dryden.
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2. Empty boasting; mere brag; pretension.
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Braggardism (�), n. [See .] Boastfulness; act of bragging. Shak.
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Braggart (�), n. [OF. bragard flaunting, vain, bragging. See , v. i.] A boaster.
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O, I could play the woman with mine eyes,
And braggart with my tongue. Shak.
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Braggart, a. Boastful. -- Braggartly, adv.
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Bragger (�), n. One who brags; a boaster.
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Bragget (�), n. [OE. braket, bragot, fr. W. bragawd, bragod, fr. brag malt.] A liquor made of ale and honey fermented, with spices, etc. [Obs.] B. Jonson.
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Braggingly (�), adv. Boastingly.
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Bragi n. (Norse mythol.) the Norse god of poetry and music; a son of Odin.
Syn. -- Brage.
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Bragless, a. Without bragging. [R.] Shak.
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Bragly, adv. In a manner to be bragged of; finely; proudly. [Obs.] Spenser.
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Brahma (�), n. [See .] 1. (Hindu Myth.) The One First Cause; also, one of the triad of Hindu gods. The triad consists of Brahma, the Creator, Vishnu, the Preserver, and Siva, the Destroyer.
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☞ According to the Hindu religious books, Brahma (with the final a short), or Brahm, is the Divine Essence, the One First Cause, the All in All, while the personal gods, Brahmá (with the final a long), Vishnu, and Siva, are emanations or manifestations of Brahma the Divine Essence.
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2. (Zoöl.) A valuable variety of large, domestic fowl, peculiar in having the comb divided lengthwise into three parts, and the legs well feathered. There are two breeds, the dark or penciled, and the light; -- called also Brahmapootra.
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{ Brahman (�), Brahmin (�), } n.; pl. Brahmans, Brahmins. [Skr. Brāhmana (cf. Brahman worship, holiness; the God Brahma, also Brahman): cf. F. Brahmane, Brachmane, Bramine, L. Brachmanae, -manes, -mani, pl., Gr. �, pl.] 1. A person of the highest or sacerdotal caste among the Hindus.
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Coloq. Brahman bull (Zoöl.), the male of a variety of the zebu, or Indian ox, considered sacred by the Hindus.
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2. a person from an old, respected, and usually wealthy family who has considerable social or political influence; -- a term used especially in New England; as, a Boston brahmin.
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Brahmaness (�), n. A Brahmani.
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Brahmani (�), n. [Fem. of Brahman.] Any Brahman woman. [Written also Brahmanee.]
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{ Brahmanic (�), -ical (�), Brahminic (�), ical (�),} a. Of or pertaining to the Brahmans or to their doctrines and worship.
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{ Brahmanism (�), Brahminism (�), } n. The religion or system of doctrines of the Brahmans; the religion of Brahma.
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{ Brahmanist (�), Brahminist (�), } n. An adherent of the religion of the Brahmans.
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Brahmoism (�), n. The religious system of Brahmo-somaj. Balfour.
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Brahmo-somaj (�), n. [Bengalese, a worshiping assembly.] A modern reforming theistic sect among the Hindus. [Written also Brama-samaj.]
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Brahms n. 1. a famous German composer, b. 1833, d. 1897.
Syn. -- Johannes Brahms.
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2. the music composed by Brahms; as, the program consisted mostly of Brahms.
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Braid (brād), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Braided; p. pr. & vb. n. Braiding.] [OE. braiden, breiden, to pull, reach, braid, AS. bregdan to move to and fro, to weave; akin. to Icel. bregða, D. breiden to knit, OS. bregdan to weave, OHG. brettan to brandish. Cf. .]
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1. To weave, interlace, or entwine together, as three or more strands or threads; to form into a braid; to plait.
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Braid your locks with rosy twine. Milton.
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2. To mingle, or to bring to a uniformly soft consistence, by beating, rubbing, or straining, as in some culinary operations.
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3. To reproach. [Obs.] See . Shak.
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Braid (�), n. 1. A plait, band, or narrow fabric formed by intertwining or weaving together different strands.
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A braid of hair composed of two different colors twined together. Scott.
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2. A narrow fabric, as of wool, silk, or linen, used for binding, trimming, or ornamenting dresses, etc.
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Braid, n. [Cf.Icel. breg�a to move quickly.]
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1. A quick motion; a start. [Obs.] Sackville.
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2. A fancy; freak; caprice. [Obs.] R. Hyrde.
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Braid v. i. To start; to awake. [Obs.] Chaucer.
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Braid, a. [AS. bræd, bred, deceit; akin to Icel. bragð trick, AS. bredan, bregdan, to braid, knit, (hence) to knit a net, to draw into a net, i. e., to deceive. See , v. t.] Deceitful. [Obs.]
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Since Frenchmen are so braid,
Marry that will, I live and die a maid. Shak.
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braided adj. 1. adorned with braid; as, his braided collar.
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2. formed into a braid or braids; as, braided hair.
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Braiding, n. 1. The act of making or using braids.
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2. Braids, collectively; trimming.
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A gentleman enveloped in mustachios, whiskers, fur collars, and braiding. Thackeray.
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Brail (�), n. [OE. brayle furling rope, OF. braiol a band placed around the breeches, fr.F. braies, pl., breeches, fr. L. braca, bracae, breeches, a Gallic word; cf. Arm. bragez. Cf. .]
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1. (Falconry) A thong of soft leather to bind up a hawk's wing.
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2. pl. (Naut.) Ropes passing through pulleys, and used to haul in or up the leeches, bottoms, or corners of sails, preparatory to furling.
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3. A stock at each end of a seine to keep it stretched.
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Brail, v. t. (Naut.) To haul up by the brails; -- used with up; as, to brail up a sail.
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Braille (?), n. A system of printing or writing for the blind in which the characters and numerals are represented by patterns of raised tangible points or dots. It was invented by Louis Braille, a French teacher of the blind.
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braille v. 1. to transcribe in Braille.
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Brain (brān), n. [OE. brain, brein, AS. bragen, brægen; akin to LG. brägen, bregen, D. brein, and perh. to Gr. bregma, brechmos, the upper part of head, if β = φ. √95.]
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1. (Anat.) The whitish mass of soft matter (the center of the nervous system, and the seat of consciousness and volition) which is inclosed in the cartilaginous or bony cranium of vertebrate animals. It is simply the anterior termination of the spinal cord, and is developed from three embryonic vesicles, whose cavities are connected with the central canal of the cord; the cavities of the vesicles become the central cavities, or ventricles, and the walls thicken unequally and become the three segments, the fore-, mid-, and hind-brain.
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☞ In the brain of man the cerebral lobes, or largest part of the forebrain, are enormously developed so as to overhang the cerebellum, the great lobe of the hindbrain, and completely cover the lobes of the midbrain. The surface of the cerebrum is divided into irregular ridges, or convolutions, separated by grooves (the so-called fissures and sulci), and the two hemispheres are connected at the bottom of the longitudinal fissure by a great transverse band of nervous matter, the corpus callosum, while the two halves of the cerebellum are connected on the under side of the brain by the bridge, or pons Varolii.
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2. (Zoöl.) The anterior or cephalic ganglion in insects and other invertebrates.
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3. The organ or seat of intellect; hence, the understanding; as, use your brains. “ My brain is too dull.” Sir W. Scott.
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☞ In this sense, often used in the plural.
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4. The affections; fancy; imagination. [R.] Shak.
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5. a very intelligent person. [informal]
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6. the controlling electronic mechanism for a robot, guided missile, computer, or other device exhibiting some degree of self-regulation. [informal]
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Coloq. To have on the brain , to have constantly in one's thoughts, as a sort of monomania. [Low] -- Coloq. no-brainer a decision requiring little or no thought; an obvious choice. [slang]
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Coloq. Brain box or Coloq. Brain case , the bony or cartilaginous case inclosing the brain. -- Coloq. Brain coral , Coloq. Brain stone coral (Zoöl), a massive reef-building coral having the surface covered by ridges separated by furrows so as to resemble somewhat the surface of the brain, esp. such corals of the genera Mæandrina and Diploria. -- Coloq. Brain fag (Med.), brain weariness. See . -- Coloq. Brain fever (Med.), fever in which the brain is specially affected; any acute cerebral affection attended by fever. -- Coloq. Brain sand , calcareous matter found in the pineal gland.
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Brain (brān), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Brained (brānd); p. pr. & vb. n. Braining.]
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1. To dash out the brains of; to kill by beating out the brains. Hence, Fig.: To destroy; to put an end to; to defeat.
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There thou mayst brain him. Shak.
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It was the swift celerity of the death . . .
That brained my purpose. Shak.
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2. To conceive; to understand. [Obs.]
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'T is still a dream, or else such stuff as madmen
Tongue, and brain not. Shak.
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braincase n. the part of the skull that encloses the brain.
Syn. -- cranium, brainpan.
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brainchild n. a product of one's creative thinking and work; as, the project was the brainchild of the director.
Syn. -- inspiration.
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Brained (�), p. a. Supplied with brains.
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If th' other two be brained like us. Shak.
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Brainish, a. Hot-headed; furious. [R.] Shak.
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Brainless, a. Without understanding; silly; thoughtless; witless. -- Brainlessness, n.
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Brainpan (�), n. [Brain + pan.] The bones which inclose the brain; the skull; the cranium.
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brainpower n. mental ability; intellectual acuity.
Syn. -- brain, learning ability, mental capacity, mentality, wit.
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Brainsick (�), a. Disordered in the understanding; giddy; thoughtless. -- Brainsickness, n.
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Brainsickly, adv. In a brainsick manner.
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brainstorm n. the clear (and often sudden) understanding of a complex situation; a sudden brilliant insight.
Syn. -- insight, brainwave.
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brainstorm v. t. & i. to try to solve a problem by discussing it exhaustively in an intense group meeting encouraging uninhibited and spontaneous contributions from all members.
Syn. -- practice brainstorming.
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brain-teaser n. a difficult problem.
Syn. -- riddle, conundrum, enigma.
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brainwash v. [imp. & p. p. ; p. pr. & vb. n. ] 1. to persuade completely; as, the propaganda brainwashed many people.
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2. to to indoctrinate forcibly or by means of torture, or by constant psychological pressure.
Syn. -- submit to brainwashing.
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brainwashed adj. subjected to intensive forced indoctrination resulting in the rejection of old beliefs and acceptance of new ones. brainwashed prisoners of war; captive audiences for TV commercials can become brainwashed consumers unbrainwashed
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brainwashing n. the process of forcible indoctrination into a new set of attitudes and beliefs.
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brainwave (brānwāv), n. 1. rapid fluctuations of voltage between parts of the brain.
Syn. -- brain wave, cortical potential.
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2. the clear (and often sudden) understanding of a complex situation.
Syn. -- insight, brainstorm.
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Brainy (brān�), a. 1. Having an active or vigorous mind. [Colloq.]
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2. highly intelligent.
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{ Braise, Braize } (�), n. [So called from its iridescent colors.] (Zoöl.) A European marine fish (Pagrus vulgaris) allied to the American scup; the becker. The name is sometimes applied to the related species. [Also written brazier.]
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{ Braise, Braize }, n. [F.] 1. Charcoal powder; breeze.
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2. (Cookery) Braised meat.
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Braise, v. t. [F. braiser, fr. braise coals.] (Cookery) To stew or broil in a covered kettle or pan.
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A braising kettle has a deep cover which holds coals; consequently the cooking is done from above, as well as below. Mrs. Henderson.
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Braiser (�), n. A kettle or pan for braising.
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Brait (�), n. [Cf.W. braith variegated, Ir. breath, breagh, fine, comely.] A rough diamond.
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Braize (brāz), n. See .
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Brake (brāk), imp. of . [Arhaic] Tennyson.
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Brake, n. [OE. brake fern; cf. AS. bracce fern, LG. brake willow bush, Da. bregne fern, G. brach fallow; prob. orig. the growth on rough, broken ground, fr. the root of E. break. See , v. t., cf. , and 2d , n.]
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1. (Bot.) A fern of the genus Pteris, esp. the Pteris aquilina, common in almost all countries. It has solitary stems dividing into three principal branches. Less properly: Any fern.
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2. A thicket; a place overgrown with shrubs and brambles, with undergrowth and ferns, or with canes.
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Rounds rising hillocks, brakes obscure and rough,
To shelter thee from tempest and from rain. Shak.
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He stayed not for brake, and he stopped not for stone. Sir W. Scott.
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Coloq. Cane brake , a thicket of canes. See .
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