HWD: brake$^{1}$ DEF: 1 \it noun \DN\rm any mechanical device for arresting the motion of a wheel, a motor, or a vehicle, chiefly by means of friction or pressure.\thes{*156.02.20}\thes{159.04.10} 2 \DN\rm (\it plural\/\rm ) the drums, shoes, tubes, levers, etc., making up the brake system.\thes{156.02.20} 3 \DN\rm a tool or machine for breaking up flax or hemp, to separate the fibre. 4 \DN\rm a heavy kind of harrow. 5 \DN\rm Also, \bf break\rm . \xr \bf shooting brake \rm (def. 2). 6 \DN\rm a brake van. --\it verb \/\rm (\bf braked\rm , \bf braking\rm ) 7 --\it verb (t) \DN\rm to slow or stop the motion of (a wheel, motor vehicle, etc.) as by a brake.\thes{*156.03.80} 8 \DN\rm to furnish with brakes. 9 \DN\rm to process (flax or hemp) by crushing it in a brake. 10 --\it verb (i) \DN\rm to use or apply a brake.\thes{*156.03.80} 11 \DN\rm to run a hoisting machine. 12 \DN\rm to slow down.\thes{*156.03.80} HWD: brake$^{2}$ DEF: \it noun \/\rm a place overgrown with bushes, shrubs, brambles, or cane; a thicket. HWD: brake$^{3}$ DEF: \it noun \/\rm any large or coarse fern, especially \it Pteridium aquilinum \/\rm or some allied species. HWD: brake$^{4}$ DEF: \it verb Archaic. \/\rm past tense of \bf break\rm .