Merriam-Webster's Collegiate® Dictionary, 11th Edition
EMBRACE
I. verb (embraced; embracing) see: brace
Date: 14th century
transitive verb
1. to clasp in the arms ; hug , cherish , love , encircle , enclose ,
3. to take up especially readily or gladly , to avail oneself of ; welcome ,
4. to take in or include as a part, item, or element of a more inclusive whole , to be equal or equivalent to , intransitive verb to participate in an embrace, see: adopt embraceable adjective embracement noun embracer noun embracingly adverb
II. noun
Date: 1592
a close encircling with the arms and pressure to the chest especially as a sign of affection ; hug , grip , encirclement , acceptance