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bo y ra c|er (boy racers ) N‑COUNT British journalists sometimes refer to young men who drive very fast, especially in expensive and powerful cars, as boy racers . [DISAPPROVAL ] □  Bad driving is not just the preserve of boy racers.

Bo y Scou t (Boy Scouts ) also boy scout

1 N‑PROPER [with sing or pl verb] The Boy Scouts is an organization for boys which teaches them discipline and practical skills. □  He's in the Boy Scouts.

2 N‑COUNT A Boy Scout is a boy who is a member of the Boy Scouts.

bozo /boʊ zoʊ/ (bozos ) N‑COUNT If you say that someone is a bozo , you mean that you think they are stupid. [INFORMAL , DISAPPROVAL ] □  He makes 'em look like bozos.

bps /bi ː piː e s/ bps is a measurement of the speed at which computer data is transferred, for example by a modem. bps is an abbreviation for 'bits per second'. [COMPUTING ] □  A minimum 28,800 bps modem is probably the slowest you'll want to put up with.

Br.Br. is a written abbreviation for British .

bra /brɑː / (bras ) N‑COUNT A bra is a piece of underwear that women wear to support their breasts.

brace /bre I s/ (braces , bracing , braced )

1 VERB If you brace yourself for something unpleasant or difficult, you prepare yourself for it. □ [V pron-refl + for ] He braced himself for the icy plunge into the black water. □ [V pron-refl] She braced herself, as if to meet a blow.

2 VERB If you brace yourself against something or brace part of your body against it, you press against something in order to steady your body or to avoid falling. □ [V pron-refl + against ] Elaine braced herself against the dresser and looked in the mirror. □ [V n + against ] He braced his back against the wall.

3 VERB If you brace your shoulders or knees, you keep them stiffly in a particular position. □ [V n] He braced his shoulders as the snow slashed across his face.

4 VERB To brace something means to strengthen or support it with something else. □ [V n] Overhead, the lights showed the old timbers, used to brace the roof.

5 N‑COUNT You can refer to two things of the same kind as a brace of that thing. The plural form is also brace . □ [+ of ] …a brace of bottles of Mercier Rose champagne. □ [+ of ] …a few brace of grouse.

6 N‑COUNT [oft n N ] A brace is a device attached to a part of a person's body, for example to a weak leg, in order to strengthen or support it. □  She wears a neck brace.

7 N‑COUNT A brace is a metal device that can be fastened to a child's teeth in order to help them grow straight.

8 N‑PLURAL Braces are a pair of straps that pass over your shoulders and fasten to your trousers at the front and back in order to stop them from falling down. [BRIT ] in AM, use suspenders 9 N‑COUNT Braces or curly braces are a pair of written marks that you place around words, numbers, or parts of a computer code, for example to indicate that they are connected in some way or are separate from other parts of the writing or code. [AM ] in BRIT, usually use curly brackets

brace|let /bre I sl I t/ (bracelets ) N‑COUNT A bracelet is a chain or band, usually made of metal, which you wear around your wrist as jewellery.

brac|ing /bre I s I ŋ/ ADJ If you describe something, especially a place, climate, or activity as bracing , you mean that it makes you feel fresh and full of energy. □  …a bracing walk.

brack|en /bræ kən/ N‑UNCOUNT Bracken is a large plant with leaves that are divided into many thin sections. It grows on hills and in woods.

brack|et /bræ k I t/ (brackets , bracketing , bracketed )

1 N‑COUNT [usu n N ] If you say that someone or something is in a particular bracket , you mean that they come within a particular range, for example a range of incomes, ages, or prices. □  …a 33% top tax rate on everyone in these high-income brackets. □  Do you fall outside that age bracket?