Embraces

em·brace

 (ĕm-brās′)

v. em·braced, em·brac·ing, em·brac·es

v.tr.

1. To clasp or hold close with the arms, usually as an expression of affection.

2. To surround or enclose: "the bold chalk ridge that embraces the prominences of Hambledon Hill" (Thomas Hardy).

3. To include or contain as part of something broader. See Synonyms at include.

4. To adopt or support willingly or eagerly: embrace a social cause.

5. To avail oneself of: "I only regret, in my chilled age, certain occasions and possibilities I didn't embrace" (Henry James).

v.intr.

To join in an embrace.

n.

1. An act of holding close with the arms, usually as an expression of affection; a hug.

2. An enclosure or encirclement: caught in the jungle's embrace.

3. Eager acceptance: his embrace of socialism.

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[Middle English embracen, from Old French embracer : en-, in; see en-¹ + brace, the two arms; see brace.]

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em·brace′a·ble adj.

em·brace′ment n.

em·brac′er n.

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Embraces

 

See Also: KISSES; MEN AND WOMEN; PEOPLE, INTERACTIONS; SEXUAL INTERACTION

1. Almost completely covered by MaButhelezi’s big arms, like a blanket of flesh —Njabulo Ndebele
2. Clasped each other like a pair of abandoned children —Natascha Wodin
3. Clinch like lovers at the final fade out —George Garrett
4. Curled up together like a pair of old dogs —Jean Thompson
5. Drawing her toward him he held her and squeezed her out like a bit of old washing —Edna O’Brien
6. Drew her to him, crushing her like a pale flower to his breast —Peter De Vries
7. Drew the child to her as if she were a springing young tree —Elizabeth Taylor
8. Embraced Himiko [name of a character] like a bear hugging an enemy —Kenzaburo Oe
9. Embraced him like a hot, wet towel —William H. Hallhan
10. Embraced like bears —Madison Smartt Bell
11. Embrace like penpals —Ira Wood
12. Embraces are keen like pain —Algernon Charles Swinburne
13. Her embrace was clumsy like a bad dancer’s —John Braine
14. Her long thin arms came up to wind about him and inexorably, like tight thin wires, to hold him down —H. E. Bates
15. His arm around her felt as if she’d been born with it there —William Mcllvanney
16. His arms are like a cradle in which she is warm and safe —Alvin Boretz, television program, 1986
17. Hold hands like teenagers, fingers meshed like the teeth of rusty gears —Ira Wood
18. Lay locked like human vines —Charles Bukowski
19. Let our arms clasp like ivy —John Donne
20. Locked in a profound embrace … like Ahab and the whale —A. R. Guerney, Jr.
    Guerney’s simile refers to the guests in his play The Perfect Party.
21. Marg’s long tanned body entwined Fencer’s like a constricting serpent —Robert Stone
22. Pressed herself upon me like someone pressing upon a bruise —Lawrence Durrell
23. She vibrated in his arms like a tuning fork —Andrew Kaplan
24. Snuggled up together like spoons in bed —Phyllis Naylor
25. They’d lie together, like a four-armed creature fearful of amputation —Julia O’Faolain
26. Was so huge and soft it was like embracing a cloud and sinking down —Lee Smith

Similes Dictionary, 1st Edition. © 1988 The Gale Group, Inc. All rights reserved.