[syn: espouse, embrace, adopt, sweep up]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Embrace \Em*brace"\ ([e^]m*br[=a]s"), v. t. [Pref. em- (intens.)
+ brace, v. t.]
To fasten on, as armor. [Obs.] --Spenser.
[1913 Webster]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Embrace \Em*brace"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Embraced
([e^]m*br[=a]st"); p. pr. & vb. n. Embracing
([e^]m*br[=a]"s[i^]ng).] [OE. embracier, F. embrasser; pref.
em- (L. in) + F. bras arm. See Brace, n.]
1. To clasp in the arms with affection; to take in the arms;
to hug.
[1913 Webster]
I will embrace him with a soldier's arm,
That he shall shrink under my courtesy. --Shak.
[1913 Webster]
Paul called unto him the disciples, and embraced
them. --Acts xx. 1.
[1913 Webster]
2. To cling to; to cherish; to love. --Shak.
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3. To seize eagerly, or with alacrity; to accept with
cordiality; to welcome. "I embrace these conditions." "You
embrace the occasion." --Shak.
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What is there that he may not embrace for truth?
--Locke.
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4. To encircle; to encompass; to inclose.
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Low at his feet a spacious plain is placed,
Between the mountain and the stream embraced.
--Denham.
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5. To include as parts of a whole; to comprehend; to take in;
as, natural philosophy embraces many sciences.
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Not that my song, in such a scanty space,
So large a subject fully can embrace. --Dryden.
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6. To accept; to undergo; to submit to. "I embrace this
fortune patiently." --Shak.
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7. (Law) To attempt to influence corruptly, as a jury or
court. --Blackstone.
Syn: To clasp; hug; inclose; encompass; include; comprise;
comprehend; contain; involve; imply.
[1913 Webster]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Embrace \Em*brace"\, v. i.
To join in an embrace.
[1913 Webster]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Embrace \Em*brace"\, n.
Intimate or close encircling with the arms; pressure to the
bosom; clasp; hug.
[1913 Webster]
We stood tranced in long embraces,
Mixed with kisses. --Tennyson.
[1913 Webster]
WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):
embrace
n 1: the act of clasping another person in the arms (as in
greeting or affection) [syn: embrace, embracing,
embracement]
2: the state of taking in or encircling; "an island in the
embrace of the sea"
3: a close affectionate and protective acceptance; "his willing
embrace of new ideas"; "in the bosom of the family" [syn:
embrace, bosom]
v 1: include in scope; include as part of something broader;
have as one's sphere or territory; "This group encompasses
a wide range of people from different backgrounds"; "this
should cover everyone in the group" [syn: embrace,
encompass, comprehend, cover]
2: squeeze (someone) tightly in your arms, usually with
fondness; "Hug me, please"; "They embraced"; "He hugged her
close to him" [syn: embrace, hug, bosom, squeeze]
3: take up the cause, ideology, practice, method, of someone and
use it as one's own; "She embraced Catholicism"; "They
adopted the Jewish faith" [syn: espouse, embrace,
adopt, sweep up]
Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0:
295 Moby Thesaurus words for "embrace":
abduct, accept, accommodate, accost, accouple, accueil, accumulate,
address, adhere, adhere to, admit, adopt, adoption, affiliate,
agglomerate, agglutinate, amass, ankle, approve, articulate,
articulation, assemble, assimilate, associate, band, bear,
bear hug, bite, bob, bond, bosom, boundary, bow, box, bracket,
bridge, bridge over, bunch, butt, carry, carry off, case, cement,
cervix, chain, cherish, clamp, clap together, clasp, cleave,
cleave to, clench, clinch, cling, cling to, clinging, clip, close,
closure, clot, cluster, clutch, coagulate, cohere, collect,
combine, come together, communicate, compass, compass about,
complete, compose, comprehend, comprise, concatenate, congeal,
conglobulate, conglomerate, conjoin, conjugate, connect,
connecting link, connecting rod, connection, contain, converge,
copulate, count in, couple, coupling, cover, cradle, crate, cuddle,
curtsy, death grip, dovetail, elbow, embay, embody, embosom, embox,
embracement, embracing, employ, encapsulate, encase, encircle,
enclasp, enclose, encompass, enfold, enfoldment, enshroud,
entertain, entwine, envelop, environ, envisage, enwrap, espouse,
fill, fill in, fill out, firm hold, fold, fondle, foothold,
footing, foster, freeze to, gather, glad hand, gliding joint, glue,
go around, go in for, go round, grapple, grasp, greeting, grip,
gripe, grow together, hail, hand-clasp, handshake, hang on,
hang on to, hang together, harbor, have, have and hold,
hearty welcome, hello, hinge, hinged joint, hip, hold, hold fast,
hold on, hold on to, hold tight, hold together, how-do-you-do, hug,
include, incorporate, intercommunicate, interface, invest, involve,
iron grip, join, joining, joint, juncture, keep, keep hold of,
kidnap, kiss, knee, knit, knot, knuckle, lap, lay together, league,
link, lock, lump together, make use of, make welcome, marry,
marshal, mass, meet, merge, miter, mobilize, mortise, neck,
never let go, nip, nod, number among, nurse, nurture, nuzzle,
occupy, open arms, pack, package, pair, pass, persist,
piece together, pivot, pivot joint, press, purchase, put together,
rabbet, ratify, receive, reception, reckon among, reckon in,
reckon with, roll into one, salutation, salute, scarf, seam,
seizure, set, shanghai, sheathe, shoulder, shroud, smile,
smile of recognition, smiling reception, smother, snuggle, solder,
solidify, span, splice, squeeze, stay, stay put, stick, stick to,
stick together, stitch, subsume, surround, suture, swaddle, swathe,
symphysis, take hold of, take in, take into account,
take into consideration, take on, take over, take up, tape,
the glad hand, throttle, tie, tie rod, tight grip, toehold, toggle,
toggle joint, treasure, treasure up, twine, unify, union, unite,
use, wave, welcome, welcome mat, welcoming, weld, wrap, wrap about,
wrap up, wrist, yoke