Meaning & use
pedal brake
Last updated
Meanings
nouncountable
A braking system on a bicycle in which you push the pedals backward to slow down or stop.
Grammar: Countable: you can say 'a pedal brake' or 'pedal brakes'.
Patterns
- have a pedal brake
- use a pedal brake
- a bike with a pedal brake
My old bike has a pedal brake, so I push the pedals backward to stop.
She prefers a pedal brake because it works even when the road is wet.
The mechanic adjusted the pedal brake so it responds more quickly.
nouncountabletechnical
A brake in a vehicle that is operated by pressing a pedal with your foot.
Grammar: Countable; often used in the plural to talk about the system as a whole.
Patterns
- apply the pedal brake
- the pedal brake is engaged
- release the pedal brake
In an emergency, press the pedal brake firmly and steer to the side.
The driving instructor explained that the pedal brake should be used gently on icy roads.
He kept his foot near the pedal brake while waiting at the junction.
Word forms
| plural | pedal brakes |
|---|
Common combinations
- pedal brake system
- The pedal brake system on this model is known for being reliable.
- rear pedal brake
- The rear pedal brake is controlled by pushing the pedals backward.
- front pedal brake
- Some bicycles have a front pedal brake as well as a rear one.
- apply the pedal brake
- You should apply the pedal brake gradually to avoid skidding.
- pedal brake lever
- The pedal brake lever connects to the brake mechanism inside the wheel hub.
Synonyms and how they differ
- coaster brake
- A coaster brake is a type of pedal brake found on many bicycles, but the term is more specific and often used in American English.
- foot brake
- A foot brake is usually used for cars and other vehicles, while a pedal brake can refer to bicycles too.
- back-pedal brake
- This is a less common synonym for a bicycle pedal brake, emphasizing the backward pedaling action.
Word family
- brake pedal noun
- The pedal in a car that you press to slow down or stop; not the same as a pedal brake.
- pedal noun
- A lever you push with your foot, as on a bicycle or piano.
- brake noun
- A device that slows or stops a vehicle.
Commonly confused: pedal brake or brake pedal? pedal brake or pedal?
pedal brake vs brake pedal
A brake pedal is the part you press in a car, while a pedal brake is the braking system itself, especially on a bicycle.
pedal brake vs pedal
A pedal is the part you push with your foot, but a pedal brake is the mechanism that uses that action to stop the vehicle.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'pedal brake' correctly?
Choose one answer.
A pedal brake is a braking system, often on a bicycle, operated by pushing the pedals backward. Option 0 is wrong because a pedal brake slows down, not accelerates. Option 2 confuses it with a car's brake system that uses fluid. Option 3 confuses it with a gear shifter.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “pedal brake”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.