bra
An item of clothing, usually underwear worn to support the breasts.
Noun linear algebra, mathematics
- One of the two vectors in the standard notation for describing quantum states in quantum mechanics, the row vector; the other (column) vector being its complex conjugate, the ket.
Origin
From bracket, referring to the notation introduced in 1939 by Paul Dirac.
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Noun alt of, alternative
- Alternative form of bro; friend, mate
- Take it easy, bra!
- “Famalam, I ain't even gon lie to ya man, I am super happy to be finally maxing out on parole my real. This violation was definitely a reality check Bra!” Influence replied to his comrade. - 2009, Todd Johnson,...
Origin
Representing a different pronunciation of bro (“brother”).
Forms
Noun Entry 3
- An item of clothing, usually underwear worn to support the breasts.
- Mary felt annoyed at the girl; just because bras had become passé, did a girl with so pronounced a bosom have to cater to fashion? In this case practicality dictated a bra, and Mary stood at the desk feeling herself...
- Her housecoat had fallen open. She was wearing only panties and bra, which did nothing to make her scrawny, wrinkled body appealing. - 1968, Carl Ruhen, The Key Club, Sydney: Scripts, page 12:
Origin
Clipping of brassiere, borrowed from French brassière, from Old French braciere (originally a lining inside armor to protect the arm, but later a garment), from Old French brace (“arm”), from Latin bracchia, plural of Latin bracchium (“forearm”), from Ancient Greek βραχίων (brakhíōn, “forearm”), from Proto-Hellenic *brəkʰús (“short”) (because the forearm is shorter than the upper arm), inherited from Proto-Indo-European *mréǵʰus.
Forms
Derived
balconette bra balcony bra bra burner bra-burning bra chain bra insert bra-ket braless bralette brami bullet bra cage bra cantilever bra car bra cold as a witch's tit in a brass bra demibra handbra jog bra jogging bra long-line bra maternity bra nursing bra peek-a-boo bra peekaboo bra