bra

Everyday

A piece of underwear worn by women and older girls to support and cover their breasts. Short for «brassiere». tree →

In the lessons

In health and growing-up lessons (puberty), girls learn that wearing a bra is a normal, personal choice as the body changes; a «first bra» or «training bra» is common for older girls. In PE, a sports bra gives extra support. It is a private, everyday word, not rude.

Examples

• She bought a sports bra for netball. tree →
• Mum took my sister to buy her first bra. tree →
• Bras come in many sizes. tree →
• The bra is hanging on the washing line. tree →
• A sports bra helps when running and jumping. tree →
• You can ask the school nurse questions about puberty and bras. tree →

Note

Countable: a bra, bras. Short for «brassiere» (a French-looking word; in French «bras» means arm). It is a normal word, not a swear word; joking about someone's underwear can be unkind teasing.

In Jewish tradition

This is not the English undergarment. In Sefer Yetzirah it is a Hebrew root, BRA, meaning "to create."

Interpretation. Sefer Yetzirah and its readers notice that BRA is the verb used for God's creating in Genesis, and they treat it as one of the words that describe how the world was made.

Examples

• Were pfodttced ; the Hebrew word BRA, is the root. (Sefer Yetzirah, Westcott 1893) tree →

Note

Countable: a bra, bras. Short for «brassiere» (a French-looking word; in French «bras» means arm). It is a normal word, not a swear word; joking about someone's underwear can be unkind teasing.