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.
Amber and yellow heat-health alerts have come into effect across England as the United Kingdom braces for one of the longest-lasting heatwaves since 1976.
From BBC • Jul. 7, 2026
Kylian Mbappé had braces in the first two games and is tied with Ousmane Dembélé for the team scoring lead for four goals.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 28, 2026
Forty-nine of France's 96 regions are under a red heat alert, as the country braces for sweltering temperatures due to an intensifying heatwave.
From BBC • Jun. 22, 2026
I had scoliosis, braces, thick glasses, stood 5-foot-9 and wanted to be cool.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 26, 2026
In later pictures, she had braces on her teeth.
From "Genuine Fraud" by E. Lockhart
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.
