brake

Etymology

Definitions

1. 1

   A device used to slow or stop the motion of a wheel, or of a vehicle, usually by friction…

   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.
2. 2

   An ancient engine of war analogous to the crossbow and ballista.

3. 3

   The handle of a pump.

4. ›+ 16 more definitionsshow fewer

   1. 4

      A baker’s kneading trough.

      • You shall kneade[…]first with handes‥lastly with the brake.
   2. 5

      A device used to confine or prevent the motion of an animal.

   3. 6

      That part of a carriage, as of a movable battery, or engine, which enables it to turn.

   4. 7

      To operate a brake or brakes.

   5. 8

      To be stopped or slowed (as if) by braking.

   6. 9

      Certain ferns, including

   7. 10

      A thicket, or an area overgrown with briers etc.

      • Rounds rising hillocks, brakes obscure and rough, / To shelter thee from tempest and from rain.
      • He stayed not for brake, and he stopped not for stone.
      • He halts, and searches with his eyes Among the scatter’d rocks: And now at distance can discern A stirring in a brake of fern […]
   8. 11

      A type of machine for bending sheet metal. (See wikipedia.)

   9. 12

      A large, heavy harrow for breaking clods of earth after ploughing

      A large, heavy harrow for breaking clods of earth after ploughing; a drag.

   10. 13

       A tool used for breaking flax or hemp.

   11. 14

       To bruise and crush

       To bruise and crush; to knead.

       • The farmer’s son brakes the flax while mother brakes the bread dough
   12. 15

       To pulverise with a harrow.

   13. 16

       A cage.

   14. 17

       A type of torture instrument.

       • Methods of applying pain were many and ingenious, in particular the ways of twisting, stretching and manipulating the body out of shape, normally falling under the catch-all term of the rack, or the brakes.
   15. 18

       simple past of break

       • And all the people brake off the golden earrings […]
   16. 19

       A surname.

The neighborhood

• antonymfloor itantonym(s) of “to operate brakes”
• antonymput the pedal to the metalantonym(s) of “to operate brakes”
• antonymredlineantonym(s) of “to operate brakes”
• antonymaccelerateantonym(s) of “to be stopped or slowed (as if) by braking”
• neighborhackle
• neighborripple
• neighborscutch
• neighborswingle