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Definition of brake verb from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

brake

verb
 
/breɪk/
 
/breɪk/
[intransitive, transitive]
Verb Forms
present simple I / you / we / they brake
 
/breɪk/
 
/breɪk/
he / she / it brakes
 
/breɪks/
 
/breɪks/
past simple braked
 
/breɪkt/
 
/breɪkt/
past participle braked
 
/breɪkt/
 
/breɪkt/
-ing form braking
 
/ˈbreɪkɪŋ/
 
/ˈbreɪkɪŋ/
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  1. to go slower or make a vehicle go slower using the brake
    • The car braked and swerved.
    • The truck braked to a halt.
    • You don't need to brake at every bend.
    • She had to brake hard to avoid running into the car in front.
    • She braked suddenly to avoid a cat.
    • The train braked to a shuddering halt.
    • brake something He braked the car and pulled in to the side of the road.
    Homophones brake | breakbrake   break
     
    /breɪk/
     
    /breɪk/
    • brake noun
      • He accidentally pressed the accelerator instead of the brake.
    • brake verb
      • There wasn't even time for the driver to brake.
    • break verb
      • Break the biscuits into small pieces.
    • break noun
      • I really need a break from this.
    Topics Transport by car or lorryb2
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb
    • hard
    • heavily
    • sharply
    phrases
    • brake to a halt
    • brake to avoid something
    See full entry
    Word Originlate 18th cent.: of unknown origin.
See brake in the Oxford Advanced American Dictionary
trait
noun
 
 
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