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, brak·ing.

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, brak·ing.

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 /

verb

1. archaic.
   a past tense of break

brake

²

/ 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 calledbrake harrow a heavy harrow for breaking up clods
4. short for brake van
5. short for shooting brake
6. an open four-wheeled horse-drawn carriage Also speltbreak
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

³

/ breɪk /

noun

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

brake

⁴

/ breɪk /

noun

1. another name for bracken See also rock brake

Derived Forms

• ˈbrakeless, adjective

Other Words From

• brake·less 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

There are, of course, other brakes on the tendency of one-party rule to subvert the system of separation of powers and checks and balances.

From Salon

They might serve as a brake on some of his more extreme promises.

From Salon

A sightseeing tour company in San Diego is having to hit the brakes on rentals after about 30 of its vehicles, including several powered by lithium-ion batteries, went up in flames Thursday night, authorities said.

From Los Angeles Times

The two nations have closely integrated supply chains that, experts say, could put a brake on Trump’s provocative tariff plans.

From Los Angeles Times

But his overtaking moves were clean and clinical, and the one to take the lead from Esteban Ocon’s Alpine was a beauty - sending it on the brakes from at least two car lengths back.

From BBC

Related Words

• damper
• restraint