braces
Americanplural noun
Explanation
Braces are put on your teeth to help straighten them. Braces are most often seen on kids between the ages of nine and fourteen, but every once in a while you might find an adult with them too! Braces are orthodontic devices that date back to ancient times. Some Egyptian mummies have been discovered with makeshift ones. Modern-day braces work by applying gentle pressure to shift teeth into their desired positions using wires, brackets, and colorful rubber bands. While a journey with braces involves some discomfort and tooth sensitivity, the end result is often a wonderfully aligned set of teeth that can boost both oral health and confidence.
Vocabulary lists containing braces
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
As Britain braces itself for another hot week, experts are warning that many fridges in UK homes and supermarkets are unable to cope with the sort of record-breaking temperatures we have been experiencing.
From BBC ● Jul. 2, 2026
On a recent summer day at Crossroads School for Arts & Sciences, students ambled through yawns, braces and acne into their creative writing class.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 1, 2026
Many men are in what has become a kind of Canon Français uniform of berets and braces.
From BBC ● Jun. 6, 2026
I had scoliosis, braces, thick glasses, stood 5-foot-9 and wanted to be cool.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 26, 2026
“May I, Father?” he asked, and without waiting for permission, he placed the wood in its braces, barring the door behind them.
From "The Inquisitor's Tale" by Adam Gidwitz
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
