brassiere

See also: brassière

English

A brassiere

Alternative forms

• brassière

Etymology

Borrowed from French brassière. Doublet of brachiaria.

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˈbɹæzɪɛə/, /ˈbɹæsɪɛə/
• (US) enPR: brə-zĭrʹ, IPA^(key): /bɹəˈzɪɚ/

• Audio (US):

  (file)

• Rhymes: -ɛə(ɹ), -ɪə(ɹ)

Noun

brassiere (plural brassieres)

1. Dated form of bra (“item of underwear”). [from 1900s]
   • 2019, Chigozie Obioma, An Orchestra of Minorities, Abacus (2019), page 29:

     She started to strap her brassiere over her breasts.

Derived terms

• bra
• long-line brassiere
• manssiere

Descendants

• → Spanish: brasier

Translations

bra — see bra

Further reading

• brassiere on Wikipedia.Wikipedia

Anagrams

• brasserie