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.
Braces by Said and Rayan Fofana, either side of a Florian Thauvin penalty, moved Lens to 52 points, while struggling PFC remain in 15th place, eight points above the relegation zone.
From Barron's • Feb. 14, 2026
Mr Hillyard, who went on to start the UK Adult Braces blog, said having orthodontic treatment was "one of the best decisions he had ever made".
From BBC • Aug. 17, 2019
Braces confront the world with egg sandwich under their wires and say: I am worthy of unsightly scaffolding.
From Washington Post • Oct. 10, 2018
Appeared in the March 19, 2018, print edition as 'Congress Braces for Another Battle.'
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 18, 2018
Braces reinforcing the legs of the overburdened tank snapped during the heavy shaking of the earthquake.
From "Meltdown" by Deirdre Langeland
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.
