/ ˈbrækɪt; NAmE / noun , verb
■ noun
1.
(also ˈround bracket ) (both BrE ) (also par·en·thesis NAmE or formal ) [ usually pl. ] either of a pair of marks, ( ) placed around extra information in a piece of writing or part of a problem in mathematics :
Publication dates are given in brackets after each title.
Add the numbers in brackets first.
—see also angle bracket
—compare brace
2.
[ usually pl. ] ( NAmE ) = square bracket
3.
price, age, income, etc. ~ prices, etc. within a particular range :
people in the lower income bracket
Most of the houses are out of our price bracket.
the 30–34 age bracket (= people aged between 30 and 34)
4.
a piece of wood, metal or plastic fixed to the wall to support a shelf, lamp, etc.
■ verb [ vn ]
1.
to put words, information, etc. between brackets
2.
bracket A and B (together) | bracket A (together) with B [ often passive ] to consider people or things to be similar or connected in some way :
It is unfair to bracket together those who cannot work with those who will not.
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WORD ORIGIN
late 16th cent.: from French braguette or Spanish bragueta codpiece, bracket, corbel, from Provençal braga , from Latin braca , (plural) bracae breeches.