brake light
- noun
- /breɪk laɪt/
- Specialized
- The Lincoln has entered an immense traffic jam, and brake lights flare in the evening air.
- red brake lights
- brake lights flash
- car brake lights
One is the brake light turn signal situation.
- One is the brake light turn signal situation.
Examples
-
You realize you have a brake light that's out as well?
-
Oh, um, your right brake light is out.
-
Just when it seemed traffic would open up again, red brake lights forced him to stop hard.
Fiction book (1990) -
When your foot is on the brake, the brake lights come on, on a car that works.
-
There was the truck with its red brake lights, and then the headlights flaring against the truck, and then the impact.
Fiction book (2000) -
The brake lights of the Range Rover sparked like rectangular rubies as Julian and I continued the steep descent into town.
Fiction book (1993) -
Your left brake light is not functioning, and you should have it replaced soon.
-
The police officer pulled me over because my brake light was broken.
-
Make sure your brake lights are working before you drive at night.
Synonyms
A red light at the back of a vehicle that comes on when the driver brakes
How Bright
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning 'a light that signals when the brakes are applied' is directly and transparently derived from combining 'brake' (device to stop motion) with 'light' (illumination): it denotes a light associated with the brake. This simple noun–noun compounding follows common English and cross-linguistic patterns, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents would readily infer the meaning.
Etymology
Brake light The name brake light comes from the simple image of a red light that turns on when you press the brake. That bright signal tells drivers behind you that you are slowing or stopping, so the term means a rear light that 'warns' others when the brakes are applied.