1. Hold (someone) tightly in your arms, usually with fondness
   "They embraced"; "She squeezed her daughter in a loving embrace";
   - hug, bosom, squeeze
    
2. Include in scope; include as part of something broader; have as one's sphere or territory
   "This group embraces a wide range of people from different backgrounds";
   - encompass, comprehend, cover
    
3. Take up the cause, ideology, practice, method, of someone and use it as one's own
   "She embraced Catholicism";
   - espouse, adopt
    
4. Accept willingly or enthusiastically
   "The community embraced the new recycling program"

1. The act of clasping another person in the arms (as in greeting or affection)
   "Their embrace at the airport was emotional after years apart";
   - embracing, embracement
    
2. A close affectionate and protective acceptance
   "his willing embrace of new ideas";
   - bosom
    
3. The state of taking in or encircling
   "an island in the embrace of the sea"

Derived forms: embraces, embracing, embraced

Type of: accept, acceptance, acceptation, adoption, clasp, clench, clutch, clutches, espousal, grasp, grip, hold, include, inclusion

Encyclopedia: Embrace, extend, extinguish