orthodontic braces
- noun
- /ˌɔrθəˈdɑntɪk breɪsɪz/
:
frenos
- Do you think orthodontic braces are worth it?
Examples
-
After two years, his orthodontic braces were finally removed, revealing perfectly aligned teeth.
-
The dentist recommended orthodontic braces to help straighten her teeth.
-
Many teenagers wear orthodontic braces to improve their smiles.
-
She got orthodontic braces last week.
-
Many teenagers wear orthodontic braces to improve their smiles.
-
The dentist recommended orthodontic braces to fix her crooked teeth.
-
After a year, he finally got his orthodontic braces removed and was thrilled with the results.
Synonyms
1
3.0
A device used to fix damaged teeth and replace missing teeth, like braces or dentures
1
3.2
A set of wires and small parts attached to teeth to straighten them
A clear plastic device worn over the teeth to straighten them gradually
How Corrective
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning is fully compositional: 'orthodontic' specifies the dental-correction domain and 'braces' names the device, so the combined phrase clearly denotes dental alignment appliances. This modifier + noun pattern is common cross-linguistically, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents would readily infer the meaning.
Etymology
The phrase orthodontic braces brings to mind small metal braces—little brackets and a wire—that hold and slowly pull teeth into the right place. The word orthodontic points to making teeth 'straight', so the phrase means the dental device used to straighten teeth.