Bra Meaning
/bɹɑː/Definition, CEFR level B1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
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Definition
nounAn item of clothing, usually underwear worn to support the breasts.
nounOne 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.
Sentence Examples
Please take off all your clothes except your underpants and bra.
Now that you mention it, she also needs a bra and panties.
CEFR Practice Quiz
She bought a comfortable ____ made of soft cotton for everyday wear.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
She bought a new comfortable ____ during her shopping trip at the mall.
Word Origin & History
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.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"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 flushing with disapproval."
— 1964, Philip K. Dick, “FOUR”, in Clans of the Alphane Moon, United States: Ace Books, →OCLC; republished London: HarperCollinsPublishers, 1996, →ISBN, page 27:
"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:
"“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, Influence:
Explore More B1 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
She bought a comfortable ____ made of soft cotton for everyday wear.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
She bought a new comfortable ____ during her shopping trip at the mall.