Definition

Noun: A secondary braking system in a vehicle, operated manually (typically by hand), designed to stop or hold the vehicle stationary in the event of a failure of the main service brake or when parked. It usually functions via a mechanical linkage, such as a cable, rather than the primary hydraulic system.

Usage

The "emergency brake" is used to secure a parked vehicle to prevent it from rolling, or as a backup stopping mechanism in a braking emergency. It is also commonly called the "parking brake."

Examples

• Noun:
  • Always engage the emergency brake when parking on a hill.
  • The driver pulled the emergency brake lever when the regular brakes failed.

Advanced Usage

• "to set/pull the emergency brake": To activate the brake.
  • He set the emergency brake before getting out of the car.
• "to release the emergency brake": To disengage the brake.
  • Don't forget to release the emergency brake before you start driving.

Variants and Related Words

• Parking brake (n): A common synonym for "emergency brake," emphasizing its use for keeping a vehicle stationary when parked.
• Handbrake (n): A term frequently used, especially in British English, for a hand-operated emergency brake.
• E-brake (n): An informal abbreviation for "emergency brake."

Synonyms

• Hand brake
• Parking brake

Related Phrases

• Emergency braking: The action of stopping a vehicle suddenly in a critical situation, which may or may not involve using the dedicated emergency brake system.
  • The cyclist's sudden swerve forced the car into an emergency braking maneuver.

Noun

1. a brake operated by hand; usually operates by mechanical linkage