drum brake

American

noun

Automotive.

a brake system in which a pair of brake shoes can be pressed against the inner surface of a shallow metal drum that is rigidly attached to a wheel.

drum brake British

noun

a type of brake used on the wheels of vehicles, consisting of two pivoted shoes that rub against the inside walls of the brake drum when the brake is applied

"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

Etymology

Origin of drum brake

First recorded in 1945–50

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Tenneco has noticed that though drum brake demand in the automotive aftermarket was previously declining rapidly, this has slowed.

From BBC • Aug. 4, 2025

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023