# brake

/ˈbɹeɪk/ (US) · /bɹˈeɪk/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/brake
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. vehicle part

noun · CEFR A2

the part of a car, bicycle, or machine that makes it slow down or stop.

For teachers: a mechanical device used to inhibit motion, typically by applying friction to a moving wheel or shaft.

- She slammed on the brake when a cat ran across the road.
- The cyclist checked his rear brake pads for wear before attempting the steep mountain descent.

### 2. a thicket

noun · CEFR C2 · Literary

a small area of land covered with many bushes, trees, or tall ferns.

For teachers: an area of dense growth, typically consisting of briers, bushes, or thickets of ferns.

- The deer disappeared into a thick brake of ferns and was gone.
- The hunters struggled to navigate the dense cane brake that lined the riverbank, their progress slowed by the tangled vegetation.

### 3. to slow down

verb · CEFR A2

to use the brakes on a vehicle to slow down or stop.

For teachers: to reduce the speed of a vehicle or machine by applying a braking mechanism.

- You should brake gently when the road is wet and slippery.
- The driver was forced to brake hard to avoid a collision after the car in front stopped without warning.

Usage: The verb is often used intransitively.

### 4. to crush or knead

verb · CEFR C2 · Archaic · Technical

to crush or break something, like flax or dough, using a tool.

For teachers: to bruise, crush, or knead a substance, particularly in the processing of flax or hemp.

- The workers had to brake the flax to separate the fibers.
- In traditional textile production, the stalks were dried and then braked to release the fibers required for spinning into the spinning process.

## Examples

- She pressed the brake to stop the car at the red light.
- The cyclist had to replace his worn-out brake pads after a long summer of riding in the mountains.
- Modern automotive safety systems often include emergency assist features that apply the brake automatically if sensors detect an imminent collision with another vehicle or a pedestrian.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.