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embrace1

[em-breys]
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verb (used with object), em·braced, em·brac·ing.
  1. to take or clasp in the arms; press to the bosom; hug.
  2. to take or receive gladly or eagerly; accept willingly: to embrace an idea.
  3. to avail oneself of: to embrace an opportunity.
  4. to adopt (a profession, a religion, etc.): to embrace Buddhism.
  5. to take in with the eye or the mind.
  6. to encircle; surround; enclose.
  7. to include or contain: An encyclopedia embraces a great number of subjects.
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verb (used without object), em·braced, em·brac·ing.
  1. to join in an embrace.
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noun
  1. an act or instance of embracing.
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Origin of embrace1

1300–50; Middle English < Anglo-French, Old French embracier, equivalent to em- em-1 + bracier to embrace, derivative of brace the two arms; see brace
Related formsem·brace·a·ble, adjectiveem·brace·ment, nounem·brac·er, nounun·em·brace·a·ble, adjective

Synonyms

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2. adopt, espouse, welcome. 3. seize. 7. comprise, cover, embody. See include.

Antonyms

7. exclude.

embrace2

[em-breys]
verb (used with object), em·braced, em·brac·ing. Law.
  1. to attempt to influence (a judge or jury) through corrupt means.
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Origin of embrace2

1400–1450; late Middle English: to influence, prejudice, bribe (a jury), perhaps the same word as embrace1, influenced by embrasen to set on fire (< Middle French embraser; see em-1, braise)
Related formsem·brac·er, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words

graspadoptreceivewelcomeaccepthaveespouseembodynuzzlelockclinchfoldwrapfondlecradleclingentwinesnugglegripencircle

Examples from the Web for embrace

Contemporary Examples

Historical Examples

  • He submitted to her embrace, but scarcely spoke, and asked nothing about Corney.

    Weighed and Wanting

    George MacDonald

  • The feeling provoked by the embrace showed plainly in his next words.

    Within the Law

    Marvin Dana

  • John struggled out of his Uncle's embrace and turned squarely to face him.

    The Foolish Lovers

    St. John G. Ervine

  • When you are free of your cloak, Tony Cross, dismount and let us embrace.

    In the Valley

    Harold Frederic

  • And under what pretence can you embrace the one, while you reject the other?

British Dictionary definitions for embrace

embrace1

verb (mainly tr)
  1. (also intr) (of a person) to take or clasp (another person) in the arms, or (of two people) to clasp each other, as in affection, greeting, etc; hug
  2. to accept (an opportunity, challenge, etc) willingly or eagerly
  3. to take up (a new idea, faith, etc); adoptto embrace Judaism
  4. to comprise or include as an integral partgeology embraces the science of mineralogy
  5. to encircle or enclose
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noun
  1. the act of embracing
  2. (often plural) euphemistic sexual intercourse
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Derived Formsembraceable, adjectiveembracement, nounembracer, noun

Word Origin

C14: from Old French embracier, from em- + brace a pair of arms, from Latin bracchia arms

embrace2

verb
  1. (tr) criminal law to commit or attempt to commit embracery against (a jury, etc)
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Word Origin

C15: back formation from embraceor
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for embrace

v.

mid-14c., from Old French embracer (12c., Modern French embrasser) "clasp in the arms, enclose; covet, handle, cope with," from en- "in" (see en- (1)) + brace, braz "the arms," from Latin bracchium (neuter plural brachia); see brace (n.). Related: Embraced; embracing; embraceable. Replaced Old English clyppan, also fæðm.

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n.

1590s, from embrace (v.).

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper