[brack.et] n [perh. fr. MF braguette codpiece, fr. dim. of brague breeches, fr. OProv braga, fr. L braca, of Celt origin--more at breech] (1580) 1: an overhanging member that projects from a structure (as a wall) and is usu. designed to support a vertical load or to strengthen an angle
2: a fixture (as for holding a lamp) projecting from a wall or column 3 a: one of a pair of marks [ ] used in writing and printing to enclose matter or in mathematics and logic as signs of aggregation--called also square bracket b: one of the pair of marks"" used to enclose matter--called also angle bracket c: parenthesis 3 d: brace 5b
4: a section of a continuously numbered or graded series (as age ranges or income levels)
[2]bracket vt (ca. 1847) 1 a: to place within or as if within brackets "editorial comments are ~ed" "news stories ~ed by commercials" b: to eliminate from consideration "~ off politics" c: to extend around so as to encompass: include "test pressures ... which ~ virtually the entire range of passenger-car tire pressures --Consumer Reports"
2: to furnish or fasten with brackets
3: to put in the same category or group "~ed in a tie for third"
4. a: to get the range on (a target) by firing over and short "there were mortar rounds ~ing the area --Ed Bradley" b: to establish the limits of "~ed the problem neatly" c: to take photographs at more than one exposure in order to ensure that the desired exposure is obtained