The Oxford Thesaurus An A-Z Dictionary of Synonyms - embrace v.

1) hug, clasp, grasp, hold, enfold, cuddle, cleave together, Archaic clip: She embraced him warmly when they met again. 2) adopt, espouse, take up or in, avail oneself of, use, make use of, employ, accept, receive, welcome: They embraced Christian ideals. 3) include, comprise, embody, incorporate, comprehend, encompass: Their tribal territory embraces all areas south of the mountains. --n. 4) hug, squeeze, clutch, Slang clinch: He gave her a tender embrace and left.