break
- brake
These words are both pronounced /breɪk/.
‘break’
If you break something or it breaks, it divides into two or more pieces, often because it has been hit or dropped.
He fell through the window, breaking the glass.
Break the bread into pieces and place on a baking tray.
The past tense of break is broke. The -ed participle is broken.
She dropped the cup, which broke into several pieces.
Someone has broken the shop window.
➜ See broken
‘brake’
A brake is a device on a vehicle that makes it slow down or stop.
He took his foot off the brake.
Brake is also a verb. When a vehicle or its driver brakes, the driver makes the vehicle slow down or stop by using the brake.
The taxi braked suddenly.