brake — ozdic

Collocations

19

1

(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

When the traffic light turned red, he quickly put on the brakes.

keep your foot on

let off, release, take your foot off

The driver took her foot off the brake as the traffic light turned green.

BRAKE + VERB

work

The car's brakes worked perfectly when I needed to stop suddenly on the highway.

fail

If the brakes fail while driving downhill, you should pump the pedal gently.

screech, squeal

be on/off

The car's brake was off, so it started rolling down the hill.

BRAKE + NOUN

failure | cable, fluid, lights, pads, pedal, pipes

PHRASES

act/serve as a brake on sth

High interest rates served as a brake on economic growth last year.

put a brake/the brakes on sth

The company decided to put the brakes on their expansion plans due to rising costs.

a screech/squeal of brakes

The car came to a sudden stop with a loud squeal of brakes.

2

(verb.)

ADV

hard, heavily, sharply, suddenly, violently

PHRASES

brake to a halt

The car braked to a halt just before hitting the bicycle.

brake to avoid sth

The driver had to brake hard to avoid hitting the pedestrian crossing the street.

Definitions

noun

1

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 engag

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

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 engag

Give the car a quick brake.

3

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 engag

4

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 engag

5

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

verb

1

To operate a brake or brakes.

Auxiliaries and ancillaries are comprehensive, and include a Westinghouse motor-driven recriprocating compressor used for locomotive braking and general service air, two rotary exhauster sets for train brakes when hauling passenger or fitted freight trains, and an oil-fired train heating boiler.

2

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

noun

1

Certain ferns, including

2

Certain ferns, including

Thesaurus

Synonyms

noun — large coarse fern often several feet high

bracken

Antonyms

Idioms & Phrases

Example Bank

6

01

She slammed the brakes when she saw a child run in front of the car.

Wiktionary

02

You’re pressing the brakes too hard—try just squeezing them.

Wiktionary

03

Auxiliaries and ancillaries are comprehensive, and include a Westinghouse motor-driven recriprocating compressor used for locomotive braking and general service air, two rotary exhauster sets for trai

Wiktionary

04

Auxiliaries and ancillaries are comprehensive, and include a Westinghouse motor-driven recriprocating compressor used for locomotive braking and general service air, two rotary exhauster sets for trai

Wiktionary

05

Rounds rising hillocks, brakes obscure and rough, / To shelter thee from tempest and from rain.

Wiktionary

06

He stayed not for brake, and he stopped not for stone.

Wiktionary

Usage Notes

i Register

In some senses, brake is marked as figuratively, obsolete, historical. Watch for register when choosing this word.