verb (used with object), em·braced, em·brac·ing.
- to take or clasp in the arms; press to the bosom; hug.
- to take or receive gladly or eagerly; accept willingly: to embrace an idea.
- to avail oneself of: to embrace an opportunity.
- to adopt (a profession, a religion, etc.): to embrace Buddhism.
- to take in with the eye or the mind.
- to encircle; surround; enclose.
- to include or contain: An encyclopedia embraces a great number of subjects.
verb (used without object), em·braced, em·brac·ing.
- to join in an embrace.
noun
- an act or instance of embracing.
verb (used with object), em·braced, em·brac·ing. Law.
- to attempt to influence (a judge or jury) through corrupt means.
verb (mainly tr)
- (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
- to accept (an opportunity, challenge, etc) willingly or eagerly
- to take up (a new idea, faith, etc); adoptto embrace Judaism
- to comprise or include as an integral partgeology embraces the science of mineralogy
- to encircle or enclose
noun
- the act of embracing
- (often plural) euphemistic sexual intercourse
verb
- (tr) criminal law to commit or attempt to commit embracery against (a jury, etc)
1590s, from 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.