brace

a structural member used to stiffen a framework

a rope on a square-rigged ship that is used to swing a yard about and secure it

a support that steadies or strengthens something else

“he wore a brace on his knee”

either of two punctuation marks ({ or }) used to enclose textual material

support by bracing

a set of two similar things considered as a unit

prepare (oneself) for something unpleasant or difficult

a carpenter's tool having a crank handle for turning and a socket to hold a bit for boring

two items of the same kind

an appliance that corrects dental irregularities

elastic straps that hold trousers up (usually used in the plural)

cause to be alert and energetic