homophones brake And break sound identical and occupy the same part of speech, but have very different definitions. Brake can act as a noun (“device used to stop the movement of something”) and can also be used as a verb (“to apply the brakes on a vehicle”). Breakon the other hand, is a more complex word with many possible meanings in its usage as both a noun and a verb: time off from school or work, an opening stroke in a game of pool, breaking something (such as a law), and more.
Homonyms are difficult little things for many people. In some cases, as with seller & tunnelor eight & eatspelling differences can help distinguish between them and in others (as with sugar beet & beat) the fact that they are different parts of speech can be useful. However in cases like brake And break The two words not only sound exactly the same, but they also look very similar and take up the same parts of speech.
Meaning and Usage of ‘Brake’ as a noun
Brake often used in the sense of slowing down or stopping motion. As a noun, it has meanings such as “a device for arresting or stopping the movement of a mechanism usually by friction” or “something used to slow down or stop motion or activity. “
The truck driver slammed on the brakes. He passed the bend.— Dominic Chola Mulaisho, Thunder smoke1979
A coward and less angry than he pretended to be, he carefully braked, so to speak, before the two old men and his mother came in front of his target.— Beti Mongo, King Lazarus1970
Meaning and Usage of ‘Brake’ as a verb
When used as a verb brake carry meanings such as “operate or manage the brakes; in particular, to apply the brakes on the vehicle,” and “to check the brakes.”
Essola was not surprised when her neighbor slammed on the brakes and prepared herself for it by clinging to her seat.— Mongo Beti, Perpetua and the Unhappy Habit (translated by John Reed & Clive Wake), 1978
She pulled over to the right side of the road, then turned to the left, slamming on the brakes to let a man pass by with a large basket in which the head and tail of the fish were protruding.— Ousmane Sembène, The Last Empire (translated by Adrian Adams), 1983
Meaning and Usage of ‘Break’ as a noun
Break is a considerably more complex word, in terms of its range of possible meanings. The word has dozens of definitions in its usage as both a noun and a verb, ranging from “the opening shot in a game of billiards or billiards” to “(ice cream) that separates during the stirring process. liquids and fats.” Among the more common meanings of the noun are “a respite from work, school, or duty”, “a gap or hole caused or ostensibly caused by damage” and “a emerge from the darkness”.
During dinner, now a quiet event, he announced: ‘Dear Ginny, do you think we should rest? I mean, away for a while?’— Buchi Emecheta, New Tribe2000
Horns honking, engines belching, they flowed through the break of the dam that stopped them.— Lenrie Peters, second round1968
But I don’t have time to continue with this farce. I must finish it before dawn and it’s past two o’clock in the morning.— Tayeb Salih, Migration season to the North1991
Meaning and Usage of ‘Break’ as a Verb
As a verb, break can mean “to violate, to violate” (as in break law) or “passing through, entering.” This word is also used in conjunction with wind means “to expel gas from the intestines.”
Their legs lifted and they were afloat, two black heads sticking out of the water, their bodies pale and glowing in the water.— Jane Bryce, Maria Morphopolous’ sandals2007
Mr. Walker thought it best to be left alone. He knows what the Sergeant is doing: reminding him that, in fact, by keeping Lunga on his campus, he is technically breaking the law.— Sindiwe Magona, Push push! and other stories1996
Dr. Tortoise then withdrew one leg into his shell, then the other; pull one hand in, then the other; and finally retracted its scaly head inside so that no part of it could be seen, except for the carapace. Then he blows the wind like this: ‘Doo-oot,’ like a school trumpet or trumpet.— Liyong Taban, Repairs and other stories1969
How to remember which one to use
in fact break semantic diversity provides a means of distinguishing between words: if the meaning is related to the slowing down or stopping of an object (figuratively or literally) then most likely the word you want is brake. For most other uses, from billiards to broken glass, think about using break.
Categories: Usage Notes
Source: vothisaucamau.edu.vn
