Definition of: brave

(brāv) adjective brav·er, brav·est
1. Having or showing courage; intrepid; courageous.
2. Having elegance; showy; splendid.
3. Obs. Excellent.
—v. braved, brav·ing v.t.
1. To meet or face with courage and fortitude.
2. To defy; challenge.
3. Obs. To make splendid.
—v.i.
4. Obs. To boast.
—noun
1. A man of courage; a soldier.
2. A North American Indian warrior.
3. A bully; bravo.
4. Obs. A boast or defiance. [<F <Ital. bravo,? <L barbarus wild, fierce]
—brave′ly adverb
—brave′ness noun Synonyms (adj.): adventurous, bold, chivalric, chivalrous, courageous, daring, dauntless, doughty, fearless, gallant, heroic, intrepid, undaunted, undismayed, valiant, venturesome. The adventurous man goes in quest of danger; the bold man stands out and faces danger or censure audaciously; the brave man combines confidence with firm resolution in presence of danger; the chivalrous man puts himself in peril for others′ protection. The daring step out to defy danger; the dauntless will not flinch before anything that may come to them; the doughty will give and take limitless hard knocks; the venturesome may be simply heedless, reckless, or ignorant. The fearless and intrepid possess unshaken nerves in any place of danger. Courageous is more than brave, adding a moral element; the courageous man steadily encounters perils to which he may be keenly sensitive, at the call of duty; the gallant are brave in a dashing, showy, and splendid way; the valiant not only dare great dangers, but achieve great results; the heroic are nobly daring and dauntless, truly chivalrous, sublimely courageous. Compare CALM. Antonyms: afraid, cowardly, craven, cringing, faint–hearted, fearful, frightened, pusillanimous, shrinking, timid, timorous.