disc brake

noun

variants or less commonly disk brake

plural disc brakes also disk brakes

: a brake that operates by the action of a frictional material pressed against the sides of a rotating disc by a caliper

The car cornered well, the steering was quick and accurate and the four-wheel disc brakes had plenty of stopping power …

—Joseph Szczesny

… on some light trucks and front-wheel-drive vehicles, the more-efficient disc brakes in the front do most of the stopping while the less-efficient drum brakes are still adequate as rear brakes.

—Paul Brand

… disc brakes sit at the center of each wheel and stop the bike by squeezing a brake pad against a rotor mounted around the hub.

—Ken Knapp

compare drum brake

Illustration of disc brake

• 1 caliper
• 2 disc

Examples of disc brake in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Front and rear hydraulic disc brakes deliver precise stopping power. — Abhimanyu Ghoshal, New Atlas, 9 Aug. 2026

Improved athleticism is owed to the restomod’s coil-over suspension, front sway bar, 18-inch wheels with Michelin Pilot Sport tires, and Baer disc brakes. — Viju Mathew, Robb Report, 26 June 2026

Hydraulic disc brakes scrub off speed, and riders can lock out the front suspension on both bikes if so desired. — William Roberson, Forbes.com, 8 June 2026

Nevertheless, an electric overdrive switch in the 1950s was advanced, and the Austin Healey 100S — a high-performance variant — was one of the first production vehicles to feature four-wheel disc brakes in 1955. — Jesus R. Garcia, Houston Chronicle, 5 Apr. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1865, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for disc brake

• awake
• backache
• beefsteak
• betake
• cheesecake
• cupcake
• daybreak
• earthquake
• forsake
• gouache
• handshake
• headache

Kids Definition

disc brake

noun

: a brake that operates by the friction of two plates pressing against the sides of a rotating disc