brake

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   anything that slows or hinders a process

   They were not ready to put the brakes on their marriage with a delay to their wedding.

2. 2
   verb

   to cause to stop by applying the brakes

   You should brake the car before you go into a curve.

3. 3
   verb

   to stop travelling by applying a brake

   We had to brake suddenly when a chicken crossed the road.

4. 4
   noun

   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.

5. 5
   noun

   A baker’s kneading trough.

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

6. 6
   verb

   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.

7. 7
   noun

   A thicket, or an area overgrown with briers etc.

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

8. 8
   verb

   To bruise and crush; to knead.

   The farmer’s son brakes the flax while mother brakes the bread dough

Etymology

Late Middle English, from Middle Low German brake, Dutch braak, Old Dutch braeke; possibly related to sense 1.