brake

¹

[breyk]

noun

1. a device for slowing or stopping a vehicle or other moving mechanism by the absorption or transfer of the energy of momentum, usually by means of friction.

2. brakes, the drums, shoes, tubes, levers, etc., making up such a device on a vehicle.

3. anything that has a slowing or stopping effect.

4. Also called brakeman. a member of a bobsled team who operates the brake.

5. Also called breaker. Textiles.,  a tool or machine for breaking up flax or hemp, to separate the fiber.

6. Also called press brake. a machine for bending sheet metal to a desired shape.

7. Obsolete.,  an old instrument of torture.

verb (used with object)

braked, braking 

1. to slow or stop by means of or as if by means of a brake.

   Synonyms: bridle, curb, restrain, stay, arrest, halt

2. to furnish with brakes.

3. to process (flax or hemp) by crushing it in a brake.

verb (used without object)

braked, braking 

1. to use or run a brake.

2. to stop or slow upon being braked.

3. to run a hoisting machine.

brake

²

[breyk]

noun

1. a place overgrown with bushes, brambles, or cane.

brake

³

[breyk]

noun

1. any of several large or coarse ferns, especially the bracken, Pteridium aquilinum.

brake

⁴

[breyk]

verb

Archaic.

1. simple past tense of break.

brake

¹

/ breɪk /

noun

1. 1. (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

   2. ( as modifier )

      the brake pedal

2. 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

6. Also spelt: break. an open four-wheeled horse-drawn carriage

7. an obsolete word for rack 1

verb

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

2. (tr) to crush or break up using a brake

brake

²

/ breɪk /

noun

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

brake

³

/ breɪk /

noun

1. another name for bracken See also rock brake

brake

⁴

/ breɪk /

verb

1. archaic,  a past tense of break

Other Word Forms

• brakeless adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of brake¹

First recorded in 1400–50; of uncertain origin; possibly a special use of obsolete brake “a bridle, curb,” from Middle Dutch braeke “(flax) brake” (a tool that separates flax fibers from their woody stems); akin to break

Origin of brake²

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English fernebrake “fern thicket, fernbrake,” Old English (fearn)bracu “bed of fern, (fern)brake,” akin to Middle Low German brake “branch, twig, tree stump”

Origin of brake³

First recorded in 1275–1325; Middle English brake, probably by back formation from braken “thicket of fern,” taken as plural; bracken

Word History and Origins

Origin of brake¹

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

Origin of brake²

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

Example Sentences

Naturally, you would prefer that your car have a noncritical amount of brake fluid.

From Los Angeles Times

A Southern California man with cerebral palsy used his iPhone to record his frustration as a delivery robot continuously swerved into the path of his mobility scooter before suddenly braking, resulting in a bot-on-chair collision.

From Los Angeles Times

That score was characteristically smart, slamming on the brakes and stepping out into the blind-side to cross as Samoa were retreating.

From BBC

One test saw a bowl of water strapped to the front of the tram, with the driver tasked with braking smoothly in an effort to not spill any liquid.

From BBC

The Constitution itself is meant to be disruption — a hard brake on unchecked power.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• damper 
• restraint