brake Hear it!

brake¹ Definition

brake (brāk)

noun

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

Etymology: ME; prob. taken as sing. of bracken

brake² Definition

brake (brāk)

noun

  1. a toothed implement for beating or crushing flax or hemp so that the fiber can be separated
  2. a heavy harrow for breaking up clods of earth
  3. a handle or lever on a machine a pump brake
  4. a machine for turning or bending the edges of sheet metal
    1. 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
    2. anything that slows down or stops motion or progress
  6. Obsolete the rack, former instrument of torture

Etymology: 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

transitive verb braked, brak′·ing

  1. to break up (flax, clods of earth, etc.) into smaller pieces
  2. to slow down or stop with or as with a brake

intransitive verb

  1. ☆ to operate a brake or brakes
  2. to be slowed down or stopped by a brake

brake² Related Forms
brake′·less adjective
brake³ Definition

brake (brāk)

noun

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

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

brake4 Definition

brake (brāk)

transitive verb, intransitive verb

break

brake Synonyms

brake

n.

check, curb, restraint, deterrent, obstacle, damper, hurdle, discouragement, hindrance, retarding device, governor, drag.

Types of brakes include: shoe, drum, band, catch, pawl, disk, disc, friction, webbing, ratchet, contracting, expanding, hand, compressed air, automatic, emergency, parking, four-wheel, hydraulic, power ABS, anti-lock braking system.

brake Usage Examples

Converse of object

  • drum: Were you thinking of fitting a servo with drum brakes?
  • slam: The car jumped back and I slammed the brakes on, letting the car gently roll back down to its original position.
  • apply: Lack of demand at these price levels has applied the brakes firmly to property asking prices.
  • bleed: Bleeding the front brakes Let's go for a spin!

Adjective modifier

  • hydraulic: In addition, the hydraulic brake on the fork has been modified.
  • rear: Using the rear brake at low speed soon trains you to ride properly - feet up - which improves your motorcycling handling no end.
  • uprated: The new red chassis Uprated brake calipers The uprated brake calipers and dics were quite a surprise.
  • foot-operated: I just couldn¹t get the foot-operated parking brake to hold on the severe hill start that was part of our test route.

Modifies a noun

  • lever: Often the rear brake lever is fitted in place of the clutch.
  • caliper: All seemed ok until a bolt holding a rear brake caliper in position sheared, whilst taking Gwyn out for a spin.
  • caliper: New front brake hose routed directly to the front brake caliper.
  • pad: The customer needs to check first of all that the brake pads are not worn out.
  • van: Kevin Jones continues the brake van repairs at Darley Dale also.
  • fluid: You should replace your brake fluid at least once a year.

Noun used with modifier

  • anti-lock: All Scania ADR vehicles meet EC braking requirements and have ABS anti-lock brakes.
  • disk: These options include from a simple cylinder to convert standard disk brakes to the fluid type, to a full twin disk system.
  • antilock: Channel fox's sports optional antilock brakes look for other quot strahlen von.
  • vacuum: See separate entries for air brakes and vacuum brakes for more details.
  • caliper: The tires are Michelin ( 20 " x 1 ¾ " ) The brakes are caliper brakes, similar to those found on bicycles.
  • caliper: Twin piston, twin caliper front brake and single twin piston caliper rear brake.
brake Quotes

   If Microsoft were a car it would have a large gas pedal and a small but workable brake. It would not have a rear- view mirror.

—Murray, Mike (Michael)