Brake Definition

brāk
braked, brakes, braking, break
noun
brakes
A toothed implement for beating or crushing flax or hemp so that the fiber can be separated.
Webster's New World
Any device for slowing, stopping, or preventing the motion of a vehicle or machine, as by causing a block, shoe, or band to press against a moving part.
Webster's New World
A heavy harrow for breaking up clods of earth.
Webster's New World
Anything that slows down or stops movement, activity, or progress.
Webster's New World
Any of a genus (Pteris) of coarse tropical ferns (family Polypodiaceae) used commonly as a houseplant.
Webster's New World
Synonyms:
Antonyms:
verb
braked, brakes, braking
To crush (flax or hemp) in a toothed device.
American Heritage
To break up (flax, clods of earth, etc.) into smaller pieces.
Webster's New World
To slow down or stop with or as with a brake.
Webster's New World
To operate a brake or brakes.
Webster's New World
To be slowed down or stopped by a brake.
Webster's New World
Antonyms:

Other Word Forms of Brake

Noun

Singular:
brake
Plural:
brakes

Origin of Brake

  • Probably brake bridle, curb from Middle Dutch or Middle Low German nose ring, curb, flax brake brake2

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

  • Middle English from Old French brac from oblique form of bras arm bracer2

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

  • Middle English from Middle Dutch from Middle Low German bhreg- in Indo-European roots

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

  • Apparently a shortened form of bracken. (Compare chick, chicken.)

    From Wiktionary

  • Middle English from Middle Low German bhreg- in Indo-European roots

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

  • Middle English probably back-formation from braken bracken

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

  • Compare Middle Low German brake.

    From Wiktionary

  • From Old Dutch braeke.

    From Wiktionary

  • Origin uncertain.

    From Wiktionary

  • Inflected forms.

    From Wiktionary

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