air brake
|
noun
a brake or system of brakes operated by compressed air.
Aeronautics. a device for reducing the air speed of an aircraft by increasing its drag.
a device for stopping the sails of a windmill by disrupting the flow of air around them.
Nearby words
air battery, air bed, air bell, air bladder, air blast, air brake, air brick, air bridge, air cargo, air carrier, air casing
Origin of air brake
An Americanism dating back to 1870–75
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
Examples from the Web for air brake
British Dictionary definitions for air brake
air brake
noun
a brake operated by compressed air, esp in heavy vehicles and trains
Also called: dive brake an articulated flap or small parachute for reducing the speed of an aircraft
a rotary fan or propeller connected to a shaft to reduce its speed
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012