a category falling within certain defined limits
"The new tax law introduced several income brackets to determine how much each person owes."
either of two punctuation marks (`<' or `>') used in computer programming and sometimes used to enclose textual material
"The developer added a closing bracket to fix the syntax error in her Python script."
either of two punctuation marks ([ or ]) used to enclose textual material
"The editor placed bracket around the inserted footnote numbers to distinguish them from the original text."
a support projecting from a wall (as to hold a shelf)
"The heavy wooden bracket projects from the brick wall to securely hold the bookshelf in place."
A fixture attached to a wall to hold up a shelf.
"The old recipe called for a bracket, which was an ancient drink made with ale and honey."
Alternative form of bragget (“drink made with ale and honey”)
In plain English: A bracket is two matching curved lines used to set off extra information inside a sentence.
"The metal bracket held up the television above the fireplace."
Usage: Use the noun form when referring to the physical metal or wooden supports that attach shelves to walls, while the verb describes the action of securing something with these fixtures. Avoid confusing this hardware item with parentheses used in writing, which are also called brackets but serve a completely different grammatical function.
classify or group
"The teacher decided to bracket the students into groups based on their test scores."
To support by means of mechanical brackets.
"The heavy shelf is securely bracketed to the wall studs to prevent it from sagging under weight."
In plain English: To bracket something means to put it between two other things, usually by placing parentheses around words or numbers.
"The referee decided to bracket the foul against both players for arguing during the game."
The word "bracket" comes from the Old French term for a fly in men's pants. It entered English via Middle English to describe that specific garment opening before eventually shifting its meaning to refer to architectural supports or punctuation marks.