air brake
noun
1
: a brake operated by a piston driven by compressed air
2
: a surface that may be projected into the airstream for increasing drag and lowering the speed of an airplane
Examples of air brake in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The railroad also changed its braking methods, switching from dynamic brakes to air brakes, and rails were pressure washed.
—
Doug Ross, Chicago Tribune, 1 Dec. 2024
There are other systems, like drum brakes, air brakes, band brakes, the Flintstones method, et cetera, that have also been around since the dawn of the automotive industry.
—New Atlas, 25 Nov. 2024
That wing also acts as an air brake, shooting upward to clamp down the rear under hard braking, countering the car’s forward weight shift to allow the rear brakes to apply a greater share of force.
—IEEE Spectrum, 28 Mar. 2012
The canopy also helps with looks, aerodynamics, and functions as an air brake.
—Umar Shakir, The Verge, 31 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for air brake 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Doug Ross, Chicago Tribune, 1 Dec. 2024
There are other systems, like drum brakes, air brakes, band brakes, the Flintstones method, et cetera, that have also been around since the dawn of the automotive industry.
—New Atlas, 25 Nov. 2024
That wing also acts as an air brake, shooting upward to clamp down the rear under hard braking, countering the car’s forward weight shift to allow the rear brakes to apply a greater share of force.
—IEEE Spectrum, 28 Mar. 2012
The canopy also helps with looks, aerodynamics, and functions as an air brake.
—Umar Shakir, The Verge, 31 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for air brake
Dictionary Entries Near air brake
Cite this Entry
“Air brake.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/air%20brake. Accessed 26 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share