1
- a device for slowing or stopping a moving vehicle, typically by applying pressure to the wheels闸; 刹车; 制动装置：
he slammed on his brakes
他使劲踩住了刹车
as modifier a brake pedal.刹车踏板。
1.1
- figurative a thing that slows or hinders a process〈喻〉阻碍（物）, 抑制（物）：
constrained resources will act as a brake on research.
有限的资源将阻碍研究进程。
no obj.
- make a moving vehicle slow down or stop by using a brake（用刹车）使（某物）减速（或停下）; 刹住（车）：
she had to brake hard to avoid a milk float
为了不撞上那辆送牛奶的电瓶车, 她不得不来了个急刹车
as adj. braking an anti-lock braking system.防抱刹车系统。
词源
late 18th cent.: of unknown origin.