embraces

1. 1
   verb

   Third-person singular simple present of embrace.

   The committee embraces feedback from members at every level.

   Their grandmother always embraces each grandchild at the door.

   Note

   Every use of this form takes a direct object: someone embraces a grandchild, a committee embraces feedback, hills embrace a town. The object decides the reading. A person points to a hug. An idea or practice points to eager, welcoming acceptance. A place or a set of things points to encircling or including. One older use, fastening on armor, is now obsolete and rare.

2. 2
   noun

   Plural of embrace.

   The reunion was full of tearful embraces and shared memories.

   She remembered her mother's embraces long after the visit ended.

   Note

   The plural counts hugs one by one, turning a single act into a series, as in tearful embraces at a reunion. The same spelling serves the present-tense verb, and position tells them apart. After a determiner or adjective (her embraces, warm embraces) it is a noun. Directly after a singular subject (she embraces) it is a verb. The figurative senses of the noun, such as full acceptance or enclosure, take the same plural.

Showing meanings only. Show all 2