brake
[noun]
Synonyms:
- control, check, constraint, curb, rein, restraint
[verb]
Synonyms:
- slow, check, decelerate, halt, moderate, reduce speed, slacken, stop

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Related Words: slow, stop

[TahlilGaran] English Synonym Dictionary ▲

I. brake¹ /breɪk/ noun [countable]

1. [often plural] a piece of equipment that makes a vehicle go more slowly or stop:
Test your brakes after driving through water.
I managed to put the brakes on just in time.
Moira slammed on the brakes (=used them suddenly and with a lot of force).
apply the brakes formal:
He applied the brakes but failed to stop in time.
the rear/front brakes
the screech of brakes (=the loud unpleasant noise they can make) ⇒ anti-lock braking system, emergency brake, handbrake, parking brake

2. act as a brake on something to make something develop more slowly, be more difficult to do, or happen less:
Rises in interest rates act as a brake on expenditure.

3. put the brakes on something to stop something that is happening

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

II. brake² verb [intransitive]
to make a vehicle or bicycle go more slowly or stop by using its brake
brake sharply/hard (=brake quickly)
He braked sharply to avoid the dog.

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

brake
noun
ADJ. defective, faulty | front, rear | foot, hand | air, anti-lock, disc, drum, vacuum
VERB + BRAKE apply, hit, jam on, put/slam your foot on, put on, slam on She slammed on the brakes to try to avoid the dog.
keep your foot on | let off, release, take your foot off He released the brake and sped off.
BRAKE + VERB work My brakes are not working properly.
fail The car crashed after its brakes failed.
screech, squeal | be on/off Is the brake on?
BRAKE + NOUN failure | cable, fluid, lights, pads, pedal, pipes
PHRASES act/serve as a brake on sth (figurative), put a brake/the brakes on sth (figurative) The need to earn some money put the brakes on my wilder ambitions.
a screech/squeal of brakes We heard the screech of brakes, followed by a loud crash.

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

brake
verb
ADV. hard, heavily, sharply, suddenly, violently
PHRASES brake to a halt The train braked to a shuddering halt.
brake to avoid sth She braked suddenly to avoid a cat.

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

brake

put the brakes on (=use the brakes)
Put the brakes on – you’re going too fast.
apply the brakes formal (=use them)
Apply the brakes as you approach the roundabout.
slam on/jam on/hit the brakes (=use them suddenly and with a lot of force)
The car in front stopped suddenly and I had to slam on the brakes.
release the brake (=stop using the foot or hand brake)
The traffic lights turned green and I released the brake.
brakes fail (=do not work when you use them)
Going down the mountain I was afraid the brakes might fail.
brakes screech (=make a high noise when you use them)
The brakes screeched and the train finally stopped.
faulty (=not working properly)
Faulty brakes may have caused the accident.
The brakes could have been faulty.
the rear/front brakes (=for the rear/front wheels)
The rear brakes were ineffective.
the foot brake (=one you apply with your foot, to slow the car down)
He stamped on the foot brake.
the hand brake (also the emergency brake, the parking brake American English) (=one you apply with your hand, to stop the car moving when parked)
I tried to drive off with the hand brake still on.
anti-lock brakes (=that do not cause the wheels to lock and skid if the brakes are used suddenly)
The car comes equipped with anti-lock brakes.
the brake pedal (=that you press with your foot)
She pressed the brake pedal but nothing happened.
brake failure (=when brakes do not work)
What should you do in the event of a brake failure?
the screech of brakes (=the loud unpleasant sound of a car stopping suddenly)
I heard the screech of brakes in the road outside.

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

brake
̈ɪbreɪk
See: ride the brake

[TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲