bracket

(brak′it)

noun

an architectural support projecting from a wall, as a corbel
any angle-shaped support, esp. one in the form of a right triangle
a wall shelf or shelves held up by brackets
a wall fixture, as for a small electric lamp
either of the pair of signs [ ], or sometimes < >, used to enclose a word or words inserted as for explanation, quantities to be taken as a single quantity, etc.
the part of a classified, graded grouping that falls within specified limits: the $30,000 to $40,000 income bracket
1. the interval between the ranges of two rounds of artillery fire, as one over and the other short of the target, used to find the correct range
2. such a pair of rounds

Origin: earlier bragget < Fr braguette, codpiece, dim. of brague, knee pants; ult. < Gaul *braca, pants

transitive verb

to provide or support with brackets
to enclose within brackets
to group, classify, or associate together: Grant and Lee are bracketed in history
to establish a bracket for (an artillery target)

See bracket in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun

a. A simple rigid structure in the shape of an L, one arm of which is fixed to a vertical surface, the other projecting horizontally to support a shelf or other weight.
b. A small shelf or shelves supported by such structures.
Architecture A decorative or weight-bearing structural unit, two sides of which form a right angle with one arm flush against a wall and the other flush beneath a projecting surface, such as eaves or a bay window.
A wall-anchored fixture for gas or electricity.
a. A square bracket.
b. An angle bracket.
c. Mathematics See brace.
Chiefly British One of a pair of parentheses.
A classification or grouping, especially within a sequence of numbers or grades, as a category of incomes sharing the same tax rate.
a. The distance between two impacting shells, the first aimed beyond a target and the second aimed short of it, used to determine the range for artillery fire.
b. The shells fired in such a manner.