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Дата публикации: Apr 09, 2016 8:12:18 AM
brake noun BrE /breɪk/ ; NAmE /breɪk/
1. a device for slowing or stopping a vehicle
to put/slam on the brakes
the brake pedal
She stopped with a squeal/screech of the brakes.
2. brake (on something) a thing that stops something or makes it difficult
High interest rates are a brake on the economy.
break noun BrE /breɪk/ ; NAmE /breɪk/
1. short stop/pause
[countable] a short period of time when you stop what you are doing and rest, eat, etc.
a coffee/lunch/tea break
Let's take a break.
a break for lunch
She worked all day without a break.
see also comfort break
(also break time) (both British English) (North American English recess) [uncountable] a period of time between lessons at school
Come and see me at break.
[countable] a pause or period of time when something stops before starting again
a break in my daily routine
She wanted to take a career break in order to have children.
[countable] a pause for advertisements in the middle of a television or radio programme
More news after the break.
2. holiday/vacation
[countable] a short holiday/vacation
We had a weekend break in New York.
a well-earned break
3. change in situation
[singular] the moment when a situation or a relationship that has existed for a time changes, ends or is interrupted
break (with somebody/something) He needed to make a complete break with the past.
a break with tradition/convention (= a change from what is accepted, in something such as art, behaviour, etc.)
break (in something) a break in the weather (= a change from one type of weather to a different one)
a break in diplomatic relations
4. opening/space
[countable] break (in something) a space or an opening between two or more things
We could see the moon through a break in the clouds.
Wait for a break in the traffic before crossing the road.
5. opportunity
[countable] (informal) an opportunity to do something, usually to get something that you want or to achieve success
I got my lucky break when I won a ‘Young Journalist of the Year’ competition.
We've had a few bad breaks (= pieces of bad luck) along the way.
If you just give me a break, you won’t regret it.
6. of bone
[countable] a place where something, especially a bone in your body, has broken
The X-ray showed there was no break in his leg.
7. in tennis
(also break of serve) [countable] a win in a game in which your opponent is serving
It was her second break in the set.
break point (= a situation in which, if you win the next point, you win the game)
8. in billiards/snooker
[countable] a series of successful shots by one player; the number of points scored in a series of successful shots
He's put together a magnificent break.
a 147 break (= the highest possible break in snooker)
The champion began with breaks of 74 and 58.
brake verb BrE /breɪk/ ; NAmE /breɪk/
[intransitive, transitive] 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.
break verb BrE /breɪk/ ; NAmE /breɪk/
1. in pieces
[intransitive, transitive] to be damaged and separated into two or more parts , as a result of force; to damage something in this way
All the windows broke with the force of the blast.
The bag broke under the weight of the bottles inside it.
break in/into something She dropped the plate and it broke into pieces.
break something to break a cup/window
She fell off a ladder and broke her arm.
break something in/into something He broke the chocolate in two.
2. stop working
[intransitive, transitive] to stop working as a result of being damaged; to damage something and stop it from working
My watch has broken.
break something I think I've broken the washing machine.
3 skin
[transitive] break something to cut the surface of the skin and make it bleed
The dog bit me but didn't break the skin.
4. law/promise
[transitive] break something to do something that is against the law; to not keep a promise, etc.
to break the law/rules/conditions
to break an agreement/a contract/a promise/your word
to break an appointment (= not to come to it)
He was breaking the speed limit (= travelling faster than the law allows).
5. stop for short time
[intransitive, transitive] to stop doing something for a while, especially when it is time to eat or have a drink
break (for something) Let's break for lunch.
break something a broken night’s sleep (= a night during which you often wake up)
(especially British English) We broke our journey in Oxford (= stopped in Oxford on the way to the place we were going to).
6. end something
[transitive] break something to interrupt something so that it ends suddenly
She broke the silence by coughing.
A tree broke his fall (= stopped him as he was falling).
The phone rang and broke my train of thought.
Someone laughed suddenly and the spell was broken.
[transitive] break something to make something end by using force or strong action
an attempt to break the year-long siege
Management has not succeeded in breaking the strike.
[transitive] break something to end a connection with something or a relationship with somebody
He broke all ties with his parents.
7. escape
[intransitive] break free (from somebody/something) (of a person or an object) to get away from or out of a position in which they are stuck or trapped
He finally managed to break free from his attacker.
8. destroy, be destroyed
[transitive, intransitive] break (somebody/something) to destroy something or make somebody/something weaker; to become weak or be destroyed
to break somebody’s morale/resistance/resolve/spirit
The government was determined to break the power of the trade unions.
The scandal broke him (= ruined his reputation and destroyed his confidence).
She broke under questioning (= was no longer able to bear it) and confessed to everything.
9. make somebody feel bad
[transitive] break somebody to make somebody feel so sad, lonely, etc. that they cannot live a normal life
The death of his wife broke him completely.
10. of weather
[intransitive] to change suddenly, usually after a period when it has been fine
11. show opening
[intransitive] to show an opening
The clouds broke and the sun came out.
12. of day/dawn/storm
[intransitive] when the day or dawn or a storm breaks, it begins
Dawn was breaking when they finally left.
13. of news
[intransitive] if a piece of news breaks, it becomes known
There was a public outcry when the scandal broke.
breaking news (= news that is arriving about events that have just happened)
[transitive] break it/the news to somebody to be the first to tell somebody some bad news
Who's going to break it to her?
I'm sorry to be the one to break the news to you.
14. of voice
[intransitive] if somebody’s voice breaks, it changes its tone because of emotion
Her voice broke as she told us the dreadful news.
[intransitive] when a boy’s voice breaks, it becomes permanently deeper at about the age of 13 or 14
15. a record
[transitive] break a record to do something better, faster, etc. than anyone has ever done it before
She had broken the world 100 metres record.
The movie broke all box-office records.
16. of waves
[intransitive] when waves break, they fall and are dissolved into foam, usually near land
the sound of waves breaking on the beach
The sea was breaking over the wrecked ship.
17. something secret
[transitive] break a code/cipher to find the meaning of something secret
to break a code
18. money
[transitive] break something (especially North American English) to change a banknote for coins
Can you break a twenty-dollar bill?
see Break a leg
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