bracket

Definitions


[ˈbrakɪt], (Noun)

Definitions:
- each of a pair of marks () [ ] { } 〈 〉 used to enclose words or figures so as to separate them from the context
(e.g: symbols are given in brackets)

- a category of people or things that are similar or fall between specified limits
(e.g: those in a high income bracket)

- a right-angled support attached to a wall for holding a shelf, lamp, or other object

- the distance between two artillery shots fired either side of the target to establish range

- a diagram representing the sequence of matches in a sports tournament, especially as used for making predictions about its outcome
(e.g: with the March Madness tournament half the fun is filling out your bracket)

- a person's nose or jaw
(e.g: a quick punch up the bracket)


Phrases:

Origin:
late 16th century: from French braguette or Spanish bragueta ‘codpiece, bracket, corbel’, from Provençal braga, from Latin braca, (plural) bracae ‘breeches’


[ˈbrakɪt], (Verb)

Definitions:
- enclose (words or figures) in brackets
(e.g: I have bracketed the phrase ‘of contrary qualities’ in the translation, since it is not explicit in the Greek)

- place (one or more people or things) in the same category or group
(e.g: he is sometimes bracketed with the ‘new wave’ of film directors)

- hold or attach (something) by means of a right-angled support
(e.g: pipes should be bracketed)

- establish the range of (a target) by firing two preliminary shots, one short of the target and the other beyond it


Phrases:

Origin:
late 16th century: from French braguette or Spanish bragueta ‘codpiece, bracket, corbel’, from Provençal braga, from Latin braca, (plural) bracae ‘breeches’




definition by Oxford Dictionaries