brake.
A device used to slow or stop the motion of a wheel, or of a vehicle, usually by friction (although other resistive forces, such as electromagnetic fields or aerodynamic drag, can also be used); also, the controls or apparatus used to engage such a mechanism such as the pedal in a car.
Meaning & usage
A device used to slow or stop the motion of a wheel, or of a vehicle, usually by friction (although other resistive forces, such as electromagnetic fields or aerodynamic drag, can also be used); also, the controls or apparatus used to engage such a mechanism such as the pedal in a car.
She slammed the brakes when she saw a child run in front of the car.
You’re pressing the brakes too hard—try just squeezing them.
A device used to slow or stop the motion of a wheel, or of a vehicle, usually by friction (although other resistive forces, such as electromagnetic fields or aerodynamic drag, can also be used); also, the controls or apparatus used to engage such a mechanism such as the pedal in a car. The act of braking, of using a brake to slow down a machine or vehicle
Give the car a quick brake.
A device used to slow or stop the motion of a wheel, or of a vehicle, usually by friction (although other resistive forces, such as electromagnetic fields or aerodynamic drag, can also be used); also, the controls or apparatus used to engage such a mechanism such as the pedal in a car. An apparatus for testing the power of a steam engine or other motor by weighing the amount of friction that the motor will overcome; a friction brake.
A device used to slow or stop the motion of a wheel, or of a vehicle, usually by friction (although other resistive forces, such as electromagnetic fields or aerodynamic drag, can also be used); also, the controls or apparatus used to engage such a mechanism such as the pedal in a car. Something used to retard or stop some action, process etc.
An ancient engine of war analogous to the crossbow and ballista.
An ancient engine of war analogous to the crossbow and ballista. The winch of a crossbow.
The handle of a pump.
A baker’s kneading trough.
A device used to confine or prevent the motion of an animal. A frame for confining a refractory horse while the smith is shoeing it.
A device used to confine or prevent the motion of an animal. An enclosure to restrain cattle, horses, etc.
A device used to confine or prevent the motion of an animal. A cart or carriage without a body, used in breaking in horses.
A device used to confine or prevent the motion of an animal. A carriage for transporting shooting parties and their equipment.
shooting-brake
That part of a carriage, as of a movable battery, or engine, which enables it to turn.
Where this word comes from
Origin uncertain; possibly from Middle Dutch or Middle Low German brake (“nose ring, curb, flax brake”), which according to Watkins is related to sense 4 and from Proto-Germanic *brekaną (“to break”).
To operate a brake or brakes.
To be stopped or slowed (as if) by braking.
Where this word comes from
Origin uncertain; possibly from Middle Dutch or Middle Low German brake (“nose ring, curb, flax brake”), which according to Watkins is related to sense 4 and from Proto-Germanic *brekaną (“to break”).
Certain ferns, including Any fern in the genus Pteris.
Certain ferns, including Bracken (Pteridium spp.).
Where this word comes from
Apparently a shortened form of bracken. (Compare chick, chicken.)
A thicket, or an area overgrown with briers etc.
Where this word comes from
From Old English *bracu, attested in a plural compound form fearnbraca (“thickets of fern”), probably from Proto-Germanic *brekaną (“to break”) and influenced by sense 2 (“fern”). Compare Middle Low German brake (“stump, branch”).
A type of machine for bending sheet metal. (See wikipedia.)
A large, heavy harrow for breaking clods of earth after ploughing; a drag.
A tool used for breaking flax or hemp.
Where this word comes from
Late Middle English, from Middle Low German brake, Dutch braak, Old Dutch braeke; possibly related to sense 1.
To bruise and crush; to knead.
The farmer’s son brakes the flax while mother brakes the bread dough
To pulverise with a harrow.
Where this word comes from
Late Middle English, from Middle Low German brake, Dutch braak, Old Dutch braeke; possibly related to sense 1.
A cage.
A type of torture instrument.
Where this word comes from
Uncertain.
simple past of break
Where this word comes from
Inflected forms.
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Definitions, grammatical labels, IPA, etymology and examples: Wiktionary contributors, extracted by Kaikki / Wiktextract. Adapted under CC BY-SA 4.0. Selected fields and authored examples are shown; third-party quotations and audio are omitted. See contributor history.
Last enriched 2026-09-10. Definitions are in English. Romanizations are shown when supplied by the source; syllable estimates are omitted for unsupported scripts.