bracket
bracket Lexical Profile
bracket Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A category or grouping of people or things that fall within specified statistical limits, such as an age range or income level.
"The new tax reform policy primarily affects households falling within the highest income bracket."
Each of a pair of marks used to enclose words, figures, or mathematical expressions so as to separate them from the surrounding context.
"When quoting a source, any words you add for clarity should be enclosed in square brackets."
A structural or architectural support projecting from a wall or column to bear the weight of an overhanging element, such as a shelf or balcony.
"The carpenter installed heavy-duty iron brackets to ensure the bookshelf would not collapse under the weight of the encyclopedias."
• verb
To group or classify individuals or things together as being in the same category.
"Sociologists often bracket these two generations together due to their similar consumption habits and digital literacy."
To flank, enclose, or place at opposite ends of something in order to frame it.
"Two massive marble statues bracketed the grand entrance to the historical museum."
To enclose written words, symbols, or mathematical expressions within typographic brackets.
"You need to bracket the secondary equation so the compiler accurately parses the order of operations."
Word Nuance & Usage
In American English, 'brackets' typically refers specifically to square brackets [], while () are called 'parentheses'. In British English, 'brackets' commonly refers to round parentheses (), with square ones referred to explicitly as 'square brackets'.
• Rhymes for bracket
Word Origin & Etymology
Late 16th century: from French 'braguette' (codpiece) or Spanish 'bragueta', from Latin 'bracae' (breeches). The architectural sense likely arose from a perceived visual resemblance between an architectural corbel and a codpiece or breeches.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.