Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English homepage

Date: 1300-1400
Language: Old French
Origin: embracier, from brace 'two arms'

embrace

1 verb
     
em‧brace1
1 [intransitive and transitive] to put your arms around someone and hold them in a friendly or loving way [= hug]:
Jack warmly embraced his son.
Maggie and Laura embraced.
2 [transitive] formal to eagerly accept a new idea, opinion, religion etc:
We hope these regions will embrace democratic reforms.
Most West European countries have embraced the concept of high-speed rail networks with enthusiasm.
3 [transitive] formal to include something as part of a subject, discussion etc:
This course embraces several different aspects of psychology.
Definition from the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
Advanced Learner's Dictionary.

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