bracket (bràk´ît) noun



1.	a. A simple rigid structure in the shape of an L, 

one arm of which is fixed to a vertical surface, the other 

projecting horizontally to support a shelf or other weight. 

        b. A small shelf or shelves supported by such 

structures.



2.	Architecture. A decorative or weight-bearing 

structural unit, two sides of which form a right angle with 

one arm flush against a wall and the other flush beneath a 

projecting surface; a console or corbel.



3.	A wall-anchored fixture for gas or electricity.



NOTE THIS ONE:



4.      a. One of a pair of marks, [ ], used to enclose 

written or printed material or to indicate a mathematical 

expression considered in some sense a single quantity. 

Also called square bracket. 

        b. See ANGLE BRACKET. 

        c. Mathematics. See BRACE.



5.	Chiefly British. One of a pair of parentheses.



6.	A classification or grouping, especially within a 

sequence of numbers or grades, as a category of incomes 

sharing the same tax rate.



7.	a. The distance between two impacting shells, 

the first aimed beyond a target and the second aimed short 

of it, used to determine the range for artillery fire. 

        b. The shells fired in such a manner.



verb, transitive

bracketed, bracketing, brackets



1.	To furnish or support with a bracket or brackets.

2.	To place within or as if within brackets.

3.	To classify or group together.

4.	To include or exclude by establishing specific 

boundaries.

5.	To fire beyond and short of (a target) in order to 

determine artillery range.



[Possibly French braguette, codpiece, diminutive of brague,

breeches, from Old Provençal braga, from Latin brâcae, of 

Celtic origin.]



The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 

Third Edition copyright © 1992 by Houghton Mifflin Company. 

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