Definition of 'brake'

Word Frequency

brake

(breɪk )

Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular present tense brakes , present participle braking , past tense, past participle braked

1. countable noun

Brakes are devices in a vehicle that make it go slower or stop.

The brakes began locking.

A seagull swooped down in front of her car, causing her to slam on the brakes.

2. verb

When a vehicle or its driver brakes, or when a driver brakes a vehicle, the driver makes it slow down or stop by using the brakes.

He heard tires squeal as the car braked to avoid a collision. [VERB]

She braked sharply to avoid another car. [VERB]

The system automatically brakes the car if there is an imminent risk of a collision. [VERB noun]

She braked to a halt and switched off. [VERB + to]

[Also VERB noun + to]

Synonyms: slow, decelerate, reduce speed More Synonyms of brake

3. countable noun

You can use brake in a number of expressions to indicate that something has slowed down or stopped.

Illness had put a brake on his progress. [+ of]

You can take the financial brakes off in June.

Synonyms: control, check, curb, restraint More Synonyms of brake

Video: pronunciation of
brake

brake in British English 1

(breɪk )

noun

a. (often plural)

a device for slowing or stopping a vehicle, wheel, shaft, etc, or for keeping it stationary, esp by means of friction

See also drum brake, disc brake, hydraulic brake, air brake, handbrake

(as modifier)

the brake pedal

a machine or tool for crushing or breaking flax or hemp to separate the fibres

3. Also called: brake harrow

a heavy harrow for breaking up clods

4. short for brake van

5. short for shooting brake

an open four-wheeled horse-drawn carriage

Also spelt: break

7. an obsolete word for rack1 (sense 4)

verb

to slow down or cause to slow down, by or as if by using a brake

9. (transitive)

to crush or break up using a brake

Derived forms

brakeless (ˈbrakeless)

adjective

Word origin

C18: from Middle Dutch braeke; related to breken to break

Word Frequency

brake in British English 2

(breɪk )

noun

an area of dense undergrowth, shrubs, brushwood, etc; thicket

Word origin

Old English bracu; related to Middle Low German brake, Old French bracon branch

Word Frequency

brake in British English 3

(breɪk )

noun

another name for bracken (sense 1), See also rock brake

Word Frequency

brake in British English 4

(breɪk )

verb

archaic, mainly biblical a past tense of break

Word Frequency

brake in American English 1

(breɪk )

noun

a toothed implement for beating or crushing flax or hemp so that the fiber can be separated

a heavy harrow for breaking up clods of earth

a handle or lever on a machine

a pump brake

a machine for turning or bending the edges of sheet metal

any device for slowing or stopping the motion of a vehicle or machine, as by causing a block, shoe, or band to press against a moving part

anything that slows down or stops motion or progress

6. Obsolete

the rack, former instrument of torture

verb transitiveWord forms: braked or ˈbraking

to break up (flax, clods of earth, etc.) into smaller pieces

to slow down or stop with or as with a brake

verb intransitive

9. US

to operate a brake or brakes

10.

to be slowed down or stopped by a brake

Derived forms

brakeless (ˈbrakeless)

adjective

Word origin

ME < MLowG brake or ODu braeke, flax brake < breken, to break; senses 2-6 variously infl. by OFr brac (form of bras, an arm) & break

Word Frequency

brake in American English 2

(breɪk )

noun

any of a genus (Pteris) of coarse tropical ferns (family Polypodiaceae) used commonly as a houseplant

brake in American English 3

(breɪk )

noun

a clump or area of brushwood, briers, etc.; thicket

Word origin

< or akin to MLowG brake, stumps, broken branches, akin to OE brecan, to break

Word Frequency

brake in American English 4

(breɪk )

verb transitive, verb intransitive

archaic pt. of

break

Word Frequency

brake in Automotive Engineering 1

(breɪk)

Word forms: (regular plural) brakes

noun

(Automotive engineering: Vehicle components, Brakes, steering, wheels, tires, and suspension)

Brakes are devices in a vehicle that make it go slower or stop.

Parts of the brake that may need replacement include linings and calipers.

The car tends to skid from the rear if the brakes are applied hard.

The brakes failed and her car accelerated out of control.

disk brake, drum brake, hydraulic brake, inboard brakes, transmission brake, vacuum brake, brake drum, brake fluid, brake lining, brake mean effective pressure, brake pad, brake pedal, brake servo, brake shoe

Using the brakes in a vehicleIf you want to slow down a vehicle, or stop, you put on the brakes or apply the brakes.If you want to slow down a little, you can tap the brakes, squeeze the brakes, or touch the brakes.If someone is traveling fast and they suddenly put on the brakes, you can say that they slam on the brakes or hit the brakes.If someone presses and releases the brakes repeatedly, you can say that they pump the brakes.

Word Frequency

brake in Automotive Engineering 2

(breɪk)

Word forms: (present) brakes, (past) braked, (perfect) braked, (progressive) braking

verb (transitive) (intransitive)

(Automotive engineering: Vehicle components, Brakes, steering, wheels, tires, and suspension)

When a vehicle or its driver brakes, or when a driver brakes a vehicle, the driver makes it slow down or stop by using the brakes.

He heard tires squeal as the car braked to avoid a collision.

She was forced to brake sharply as the other car cut in front of her.

He braked to a halt and switched off the ignition.

Example sentences including
brake

These examples have been automatically selected and may contain sensitive content. Read more…

How could he put the brakes on now?The car did not apply its brakes.On obesity and prison reform she seems minded to apply the brakes when overdue progress was at last being made.They should leave the rescue services to get on with their job and not apply the brakes to have a stare. Safety issues put a brake on self-drive cars.A situation that puts brakes on your love life is resolved.Without warning and for no apparent reason, my car applied the brakes and nearly came to a halt. Speed cameras pose a safety risk because motorists are slamming on their brakes to avoid being clocked, researchers have claimed.Then we'd have to make sure the brakes would work, stopping before the end of the runway.The growing gap between average incomes and the capital's property prices is also putting the brakes on growth in London.