1. 制动器；刹车；车闸
    Brakes are devices in a vehicle that make it go slower or stop.

    e.g. The brakes began locking...
           制动器开始锁定。
    e.g. A seagull swooped down in front of her car, causing her to slam on the brakes.
           一只海鸥突然扑到她的车前，她急忙猛踩刹车。

2. 刹车；用刹车使（车）减速；刹住（车）
    When a vehicle or its driver brakes, or when a driver brakes a vehicle, the driver makes it slow down or stop by using the brakes.

    e.g. He heard tires squeal as the car braked to avoid a collision...
           为避免相撞而刹车时，他听到了轮胎与地面刺耳的摩擦声。
    e.g. She braked sharply to avoid another car...
           她为了躲另一辆车而紧急刹车。

3. 抑制因素；约束
    You can use brake in a number of expressions to indicate that something has slowed down or stopped.

    e.g. Illness had put a brake on his progress...
           疾病使他的进展放缓。
    e.g. You can take the financial brakes off in June.
           6月份可以放开金融管制。