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English Words Starting With B

10,030 entries — pick a word to see its definition, pronunciation, and usage.

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Noun Verb Adjective Adverb Plural noun Combining form Verb (transitive)Verb (intransitive)Verb (ambitransitive)

braise
verbverb-transitiveB2
/breɪz/To cook food slowly in a covered pot with a small amount of liquid.
brake
nounverbverb-intransitive+1B1
/breɪk/A device used to slow down or stop a moving vehicle, machine, or process by creating friction or resistance.
brake band
nounC1
/breɪk bænd/A flexible strip or band, typically lined with friction material, that tightens around a rotating drum to slow or stop its motion.
brake drum
nounC1
/ˈbreɪk ˌdrʌm/A cylindrical component of a drum brake system in a vehicle, which rotates with the wheel and is pressed against by brake shoes to create friction and slow the wheel.
brake fade
nounC1
/ˈbreɪk ˌfeɪd/A temporary reduction in the effectiveness of a braking system, primarily caused by overheating of the brake components.
brake fluid
nounC1
/ˈbreɪk ˌfluː.ɪd/A type of hydraulic fluid used in hydraulic brake systems to transfer force from the brake pedal to the wheel brakes, enabling the vehicle to slow down or stop.
brake horsepower
nounC1-C2 / Very Low
/ˌbreɪk ˈhɔːspaʊə/A unit for measuring the power output of an engine, specifically the usable power delivered to the output shaft (before losses from the gearbox, alternator, etc.), as measured by a dynamometer.
brake light
nounB1
/ˈbreɪk laɪt/The red light at the rear of a vehicle that illuminates when the driver applies the brakes, signaling to following traffic that the vehicle is slowing or stopping.
brake lining
nounC1
/ˈbreɪk ˌlaɪnɪŋ/A replaceable friction material fixed to a brake shoe or brake pad, which presses against the brake drum or disc to slow a vehicle.
brake pad
nounC2
/ˈbreɪk ˌpæd/A component in disc brake systems that presses against the rotor to create friction and slow or stop a vehicle.
brake parachute
nounVery low / Technical
/ˈbreɪk ˌpær.ə.ʃuːt/A parachute deployed from the rear of an aircraft during landing to provide aerodynamic drag and shorten the landing roll.
brake pedal
nounB1
/ˈbreɪk ˌpɛd(ə)l/The foot-operated lever in a vehicle that, when pressed, activates the brakes to slow or stop the vehicle.
brake shoe
nounLow
/ˈbreɪk ʃuː/A curved metal block in a braking system that presses against a wheel or drum to slow or stop motion.
brake van
nounLow
/ˈbreɪk ˌvæn/A railway vehicle at the end of a freight train from which a guard operates a hand brake and watches the train.
brake wheel
nounLow
/breɪk wiːl/A wheel in a mechanical system that is connected to the braking mechanism, typically in vehicles or machinery, serving to slow or stop motion by friction.
brakeage
nounRare
/ˈbreɪkɪdʒ/The action or process of applying brakes; the act of slowing or stopping a vehicle or machine using brakes.
brakeman
nounC1
/ˈbreɪksmən/A railway worker responsible for operating brakes on a train, especially on older rolling stock or freight trains.
braker
nounLow (rare as a standalone term; more common in compounds like 'circuit breaker' or 'record breaker')
/ˈbreɪkə(r)/A person or thing that breaks something; one who stops or slows down activity or movement.
brakesman
nounVery Low / Obsolete
/ˈbreɪksmən/A railway worker responsible for operating the brake on a train or wagon, historically on a goods train or when shunting.
braking distance
nounB2
/ˈbreɪkɪŋ ˌdɪstəns/The distance a vehicle travels from the moment the brakes are applied until it comes to a complete stop.

Showing 7661–7680 of 10030 words.