EMBRACE

I. verb (~d; embracing) see: brace Date: 14th century transitive verb 1. to clasp in the arms ; hug , cherish , love , encircle , enclose , 3. to take up especially readily or gladly , to avail oneself of ; welcome , 4. to take in or include as a part, item, or element of a more inclusive whole , to be equal or equivalent to , intransitive verb to participate in an ~, see: adopt ~able adjective ~ment noun ~r noun embracingly adverb II. noun Date: 1592 a close encircling with the arms and pressure to the chest especially as a sign of affection ; hug , grip , encirclement , acceptance