Brake vs Break:

Brake:

1 : a device for arresting or preventing the motion of a mechanism usually by means of friction apply the brakes took his foot off the brake
2 : something used to slow down or stop movement or activity use interest rates as a brake on spending

1 : to operate or manage a brake especially : to apply the brake on a vehicle brake around the curves

2 : to become checked by a brake The train braked to a stop.

Break:

1a : to separate into parts with suddenness or violence broke a plate Break the chocolate bar in half.

b(1) : to cause (a bone) to separate into two or more pieces : fracture broke her femur

(2) : to fracture a bone of (a bodily part) the blow broke her arm

(3) : to dislocate or dislocate and fracture a bone of (the neck or back)

c : to cause an open wound in : rupture break the skin

d : to cut into and turn over the surface of break the soil

e : to render inoperable broke his watch

2a : violate, transgress break the law break a promise breaking conventions

b law : to invalidate (a will) by action under the provisions of the law

3a archaic : to force entry into

b : to burst and force a way through break the sound barrier break a racial barrier

c : to escape by force from break jail

d : to make or effect by cutting, forcing, or pressing through break a trail through the woods

4 : to disrupt the order or compactness of break formation

5 : to make ineffective as a binding force break the spell

6a : to defeat utterly and end as an effective force : destroy used starvation to break the enemy

b : to crush the spirit of brutal methods broke the prisoner

c : to make tractable or submissive: such as

(1) past participle often broke : to train (an animal) to adjust to the service or convenience of humans equipment used to break horses a halter-broke horse

d : to exhaust in health, strength, or capacity broken by his struggle for power

7a : to stop or bring to an end suddenly : halt break a deadlock breaking a bad habit decided to break off all ties to the organization

c : to open and bring about suspension of operation break an electric circuit

d : to destroy unity or completeness of break a dining room set by buying a chair

e : to change the appearance of uniformity of a dormer breaks the level roof

f : to split the surface of could see fish breaking water

g : to cause to discontinue a habit tried to break him of smoking

8a : to make known : tell break the bad news gently

b : to bring to attention or prominence initially radio stations breaking new musicians break a news story

9a : to ruin financially break the bank

b : to reduce in rank broken from sergeant to private

10a : to split into smaller units, parts, or processes : divide Break the grammar lesson into digestible chunks. break a word at the end of a line

b(1) : to give or get the equivalent of (a bill) in smaller denominations Can you break a fifty?

(2) : to use as the denomination in paying a bill didn't want to break a $20 bill —often used with into, up, or down

11a : to check or slow the speed, force, or intensity of The bushes broke his fall. without breaking her stride

b : to cause failure and discontinuance of (a strike) by measures outside bargaining processes

12 : to cause a sudden significant decrease in the price, value, or volume of news likely to break the market sharply

b golf : to score less than (a specified total) trying to break 90

c tennis : to win against (an opponent's service)

d football : to make (a run) by getting past defenders broke a 20-yard run

14 firearms : to open the action of (a breechloader)

15a : to find an explanation or solution for : solve the detective broke the case

b : to discover the essentials of (a code or cipher system)

16 : to demonstrate the falsity of break an alibi

17 : to ruin the prospects of could make or break her career

18 : to produce visibly barely breaks a sweat

intransitive verb

1a : to escape with sudden forceful effort the attacker broke from the throng

b : to come into being by or as if by bursting forth day was breaking

c : to effect a penetration break through security lines

d : to emerge through the surface of the water The fish were breaking.

e : to start abruptly when the storm broke

f : to become known or published when the news broke

g : to make a sudden dash break for cover

h boxing : to separate after an instance of holding an opponent at close quarters : to separate after a clinch The ref told them to break.

i : to achieve initial success in usually a sudden or striking way her song broke nationally

j : to begin a race the horse broke poorly

2a : to come apart or split into pieces : fragment, shatter the cup broke when it fell

b : to open spontaneously or by pressure from within the blister broke

c of a wave : to curl over and fall apart in surf or foam

3 : to interrupt one's activity or occupation for a brief period break for lunch

4 : to alter sharply in tone, pitch, or intensity a voice breaking with emotion

6 billiards : to make the opening shot of a game of pool

7 : to end a relationship, connection, or agreement —usually used with with or from break with tradition broke with the leadership

8 : to give way in disorderly retreat if the front line breaks

9a : to swerve suddenly

b : to curve from a straight path a pitch that breaks away from the batter a putt that breaks left

10a : to fail in health, strength, vitality, resolve, or control may break under questioning

b : to become inoperative because of damage, wear, or strain the pump broke

11 of a horse : to fail to keep a prescribed gait

12 : to undergo a sudden significant decrease in price, value, or volume transportation stocks may break sharply

13 : happen, develop for the team to succeed, everything has to break right

14 tennis : to win against an opponent's serve

15a : to divide into classes, categories, or types

b : to fold, bend, lift, or come apart at a seam, groove, or joint The seam on her dress broke.

c of cream : to separate during churning into liquid and fat

break a leg - used to wish good luck especially to a performer

break bread

break camp : to pack up gear and leave a camp or campsite

break cover or less commonly break covert

break even : to achieve a balance especially : to operate a business or enterprise without either loss or profit

break free : to get away by overcoming restraints or constraints

break ground

1 : to begin construction breaking ground on a new wing of the hospital

2 or break new ground : to make or show discoveries : pioneer

break into

1 : to begin with or as if with a sudden throwing off of restraint broke into tears face breaking into a smile the horse breaks into a gallop

2 : to make entry or entrance into broke into the house break into show business

3 : interrupt break into a TV program with a news flash

break one's heart : to crush emotionally with sorrow He broke my heart when he said he was leaving.

break one's wrists : to turn the wrists as part of the swing of a club or bat

break ranks or less commonly break rank : to differ in opinion or action from one's peers —often used with with broke ranks with the party's leadership

break the back of : to subdue the main force of break the back of inflation

break the ice

1 : to make a beginning

2 : to get through the first difficulties in starting a conversation or discussion

break wind : to expel gas from the intestine

1a : an act or action of breaking

b billiards : the opening shot in a game of pool or billiards

2a : a gap or opening caused or appearing as if caused by damage : a condition produced by or as if by breaking : gap a break in the pipe breaks in the ice a break in the clouds waiting for a break in the traffic

b : a gap in an otherwise continuous electric circuit

3 : the action or act of entering, escaping, or emerging from something (such as darkness) often in a sudden or violent way : the action or act of breaking in, breaking out, or breaking forth at break of day a jail break

4 : a place or situation at which a break occurs: such as

a : the place at which a word is divided especially at the end of a line of print or writing

b : the location at which waves curl over and fall apart in surf or foam : the point at which waves break (see break entry 1 sense 2c) for surfing

c : separation of composed matter at an indicated point also : the separation between a preview of a website or a particular post on a website and the full content reading the rest of the article after the break

5 : an interruption in continuity a break in the weather : such as

a : a notable change of subject matter, attitude, or treatment the break after the eighth line of a sonnet

b(1) : an abrupt, significant, or noteworthy change or interruption in a continuous process, trend, or surface dislikes breaks in his daily routine a break in her dancing career fields that extend for miles without a break

(2) : a respite from work, school, or duty take a short coffee break college kids on spring break

(3) : relief from annoyance —often used to express exasperation or irritation in phrases like give me a break

(4) : a planned interruption in a radio or television program a break for the commercial

c baseball : deviation of a pitched ball from a straight line

e horseback riding : failure of a horse to maintain the prescribed gait