From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishgracegrace1 /ɡreɪs/ ●●○ noun 1 way of moving [uncountable]GRACEFUL a smooth way of moving that looks natural, relaxed, and attractive SYN gracefulness Lena moved with the grace of a dancer.2 behaviour a) [uncountable] polite and pleasant behaviour The hotel maintains traditional standards of elegance, style, and grace.have the grace to do something He didn’t even have the grace to apologize (=he was not polite enough to apologize). b) graces [plural]POLITE the skills needed to behave in a way that is considered polite and socially acceptable Max definitely lacked social graces.3 more time [uncountable]MORE/EXTRA (also grace period American English) more time that is allowed to someone to finish a piece of work, pay a debt etca day’s/week’s etc grace I got a few days’ grace to finish my essay.4 → with (a) good/bad grace5 god’s kindness [uncountable] formalRRGOOD/MORAL God’s kindness that is shown to people We are saved by God’s grace.6 → there but for the grace of God (go I)7 prayer [uncountable]RRCPRAY a prayer thanking God, said before a meal My father said grace. 8 soul [uncountable] the state of someone’s soul when it is free from evil, according to Christian belief He died in a state of grace (=when God has forgiven you for the wrong things you have done).9 → Your/His etc Grace10 → the Graces → airs and graces at air1(9), → fall from grace at fall1(17), → saving grace at save1(14)
Examples from the Corpus
grace• You are saved by grace alone, not by good works.• Now, as Pope fell from grace, McClellan came to the fore again.• I have a six-month grace period before I have to begin paying back my student loans.• A Presbyterian evangelist converted Sarah, but left her with more feelings of guilt than of grace.• Before we eat, I'd just like to say grace.• Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?• Certainly the grace and old-world tradition of nut trees are an asset to any garden.• Jacques; he declined with grace.• The princess always handled herself with grace and dignity.said grace• I asked one pupil if he ever said Grace.gracegrace2 verb [transitive] 1 → grace something/somebody with your presence2 BEAUTIFUL/GOOD-LOOKING formal to make a place or an object look more attractive His portrait graces the wall of the drawing room.→ See Verb tableExamples from the Corpus
grace• Hanging about a foot from attached wall mounts, these sturdy steel bells would grace any garden.• The house had a shingle roof, and the traditional brickwork was graced by corbels, roll-locks and soldier courses.• Here the magnificent oaks and beeches are twice graced by their reflections in the still waters of the lake.• However unattractive King James was as a man and a monarch, he did leave a few noble monuments to grace his reign.• An opera company was formed to grace the new Civic Theatre under construction.• Celebrities such as Amanda De Cadenet, whose baby has graced two covers this year, even go as far as to be pictured breastfeeding.• His playing career was occasionally graced with other controversies.From Longman Business Dictionarygracegrace /greɪs/ noun [uncountable]1additional time that is allowed before a payment must be madeParaguay was granted a new period of 20 years, with eight years’ grace, for the payment of its $436 million debt to Brazil.They have a grace period of ten years on the payment.2a fall from grace when someone or something suddenly becomes much less successful or much less popularPhiladelphia’s economy has escaped the fall from grace seen in other Northeastern cities.3fall from grace to become suddenly much less successful or much less popularAs drug stocks fell from grace, prices of oil stocks rose.Origin grace1 (1100-1200) Old French Latin gratia “pleasing quality, kindness”, from gratus; → GRATEFUL 