bracket

One of a pair of written marks that surround extra information, such as these: ( ) or [ ].

• Put the date in brackets.
• The closing bracket is missing.
• Numbers in square brackets refer to notes below the text.

Common phrases: square bracket, round bracket, in a bracket

A range of amounts or ages, or a group of people within that range.

• She is in a higher tax bracket.
• The survey covers people in the youngest age bracket.
• Their income puts them in the same bracket.

Similar words: range, band, category

Common phrases: age bracket, income bracket, tax bracket

A piece of metal, wood, or plastic used to support or connect something.

• The shelf needs another bracket.
• He screwed two brackets into the wall.
• A metal bracket holds the pipe in place.

Similar words: support

Common phrases: metal bracket, shelf bracket, wall bracket

To put something between two marks or objects, especially written marks around words.

• Bracket the extra words in this sentence.
• She bracketed the date with round marks.
• His desk was bracketed by two bookcases.

How to use it: bracket something with something (Bracket the comment with square marks.); be bracketed by something (The doorway was bracketed by two tall windows.)

Similar words: enclose, surround

Common phrases: bracket a phrase, bracket the words, bracket something with

To put people or things in the same group because you consider them similar.

• Do not bracket these two problems together.
• The report brackets small firms with medium-sized businesses.
• He resented being bracketed with inexperienced players.

How to use it: bracket A with B (Critics often bracket her with the other young poets.); bracket A and B together (The school bracketed seven-year-olds and eight-year-olds together.)

Similar words: group, classify

Common phrases: bracket together, bracket with someone, bracket two things