1. [n]  a close affectionate and protective acceptance; "his willing embrace of new ideas"; "in the bosom of the family"
2. [n]  the act of clasping another person in the arms (as in greeting or affection)
3. [n]  the state of taking in or encircling; "an island in the embrace of the sea"
4. [v]  take up the cause, ideology, practice, method, of someone and use it as one's own; "She embraced Catholocism"; "They adopted the Jewish faith"
5. [v]  hug, usually with fondness; "Hug me, please"; "They embraced"
6. [v]  include in scope; include as part of something broader; have as one's sphere or territory; "This group encompasses a wide range of people from different backgrounds"; "this should cover everyone in the group"

Embrace
Embrace

more details ...

1. \Em*brace"\, v. t. [Pref. em- (intens.) + brace, v. t.]
   To fasten on, as armor. [Obs.] --Spenser.
   

2. \Em*brace"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Embraced}; p. pr. &
   vb. n. {Embracing}.] [OE. embracier, F. embrasser; pref. em-
   (L. in) + F. bras arm. See {Brace}, n.]
   1. To clasp in the arms with affection; to take in the arms;
      to hug.
            I will embrace him with a soldier's arm, That he
            shall shrink under my courtesy.       --Shak.
            Paul called unto him the disciples, and embraced
            them.                                 --Acts xx. 1.
   2. To cling to; to cherish; to love. --Shak.
   3. To seize eagerly, or with alacrity; to accept with
      cordiality; to welcome. ``I embrace these conditions.''
      ``You embrace the occasion.'' --Shak.
            What is there that he may not embrace for truth?
                                                  --Locke.
   4. To encircle; to encompass; to inclose.
            Low at his feet a spacious plain is placed, Between
            the mountain and the stream embraced. --Denham.
   5. To include as parts of a whole; to comprehend; to take in;
      as, natural philosophy embraces many sciences.
            Not that my song, in such a scanty space, So large a
            subject fully can embrace.            --Dryden.
   6. To accept; to undergo; to submit to. ``I embrace this
      fortune patiently.'' --Shak.
   7. (Law) To attempt to influence corruptly, as a jury or
      court. --Blackstone.
   Syn: To clasp; hug; inclose; encompass; include; ??omprise;
        comprehend; contain; involve; impl???
   

3. \Em*brace"\, v. i.
   To join in an embrace.
   

4. \Em*brace"\, n.
   Intimate or close encircling with the arms; pressure to the
   bosom; clasp; hug.
         We stood tranced in long embraces, Mixed with kisses.
                                                  --Tennyson.