Break - definition, pronunciation, transcription
Amer.
|breɪk|
Brit.
|breɪk|
irregular verb: p.t. — broke p.p. — broken
noun ↓
- some abrupt occurrence that interrupts an ongoing activity (syn: interruption)
- an unexpected piece of good luck
- (geology) a crack in the earth's crust resulting from the displacement of one side with respect to the other (syn: fault, fracture, shift)
- a personal or social separation (as between opposing factions) (syn: breach, rift, rupture, severance)
- a pause from doing something (as work) (syn: recess, respite)
- an unexpected piece of good luck
- (geology) a crack in the earth's crust resulting from the displacement of one side with respect to the other (syn: fault, fracture, shift)
- a personal or social separation (as between opposing factions) (syn: breach, rift, rupture, severance)
- a pause from doing something (as work) (syn: recess, respite)
- the act of breaking something (syn: breakage, breaking)
- a time interval during which there is a temporary cessation of something (syn: intermission, interruption, pause, suspension)
- breaking of hard tissue such as bone (syn: fracture)
- the occurrence of breaking
- an abrupt change in the tone or register of the voice (as at puberty or due to emotion)
- the opening shot that scatters the balls in billiards or pool
- (tennis) a score consisting of winning a game when your opponent was serving
- an act of delaying or interrupting the continuity (syn: disruption, gap, interruption)
- a sudden dash
- any frame in which a bowler fails to make a strike or spare
- an escape from jail (syn: breakout, jailbreak, prison- breaking)
show more (11)- a time interval during which there is a temporary cessation of something (syn: intermission, interruption, pause, suspension)
- breaking of hard tissue such as bone (syn: fracture)
- the occurrence of breaking
- an abrupt change in the tone or register of the voice (as at puberty or due to emotion)
- the opening shot that scatters the balls in billiards or pool
- (tennis) a score consisting of winning a game when your opponent was serving
- an act of delaying or interrupting the continuity (syn: disruption, gap, interruption)
- a sudden dash
- any frame in which a bowler fails to make a strike or spare
- an escape from jail (syn: breakout, jailbreak, prison- breaking)
verb ↓
- terminate (syn: interrupt)
- become separated into pieces or fragments (syn: come apart, separate, split up)
- render inoperable or ineffective
- ruin completely (syn: bust)
- destroy the integrity of; usually by force; cause to separate into pieces or fragments
- become separated into pieces or fragments (syn: come apart, separate, split up)
- render inoperable or ineffective
- ruin completely (syn: bust)
- destroy the integrity of; usually by force; cause to separate into pieces or fragments
- act in disregard of laws, rules, contracts, or promises (syn: breach, offend, transgress, violate)
- move away or escape suddenly (syn: break away, break out)
- scatter or part
- force out or release suddenly and often violently something pent up (syn: burst, erupt)
- prevent completion (syn: break off, discontinue, stop)
- enter someone's (virtual or real) property in an unauthorized manner, usually with the intent to steal or commit a violent act (syn: break in)
- make submissive, obedient, or useful (syn: break in)
- fail to agree with; be in violation of; as of rules or patterns (syn: violate)
- surpass in excellence (syn: better)
- make known to the public information that was previously known only to a few people or that was meant to be kept a secret (syn: bring out, disclose, discover, divulge, expose, give away, let on, let out, reveal, uncover, unwrap)
- come into being
- stop operating or functioning (syn: break down, conk out, die, fail, give out, go)
- interrupt a continued activity (syn: break away)
- make a rupture in the ranks of the enemy or one's own by quitting or fleeing
- curl over and fall apart in surf or foam, of waves
- lessen in force or effect (syn: damp, dampen, soften, weaken)
- be broken in
- come to an end
- vary or interrupt a uniformity or continuity
- cause to give up a habit
- give up
- come forth or begin from a state of latency
- happen or take place
- cause the failure or ruin of
- invalidate by judicial action
- discontinue an association or relation; go different ways (syn: break up, part, separate, split, split up)
- assign to a lower position; reduce in rank (syn: bump, demote, relegate)
- reduce to bankruptcy (syn: bankrupt, ruin, smash)
- change directions suddenly
- emerge from the surface of a body of water
- break down, literally or metaphorically (syn: cave in, collapse, fall in, founder, give)
- do a break dance
- exchange for smaller units of money
- destroy the completeness of a set of related items (syn: break up)
- make the opening shot that scatters the balls
- separate from a clinch, in boxing
- go to pieces (syn: bust, wear, wear out)
- break a piece from a whole (syn: break off, snap off)
- become punctured or penetrated
- pierce or penetrate
- be released or become known; of news (syn: get around, get out)
- cease an action temporarily (syn: intermit, pause)
- interrupt the flow of current in
- undergo breaking
- find a flaw in
- find the solution or key to
- change suddenly from one tone quality or register to another
- happen (syn: develop, recrudesce)
- become fractured; break or crack on the surface only (syn: check, crack)
- crack; of the male voice in puberty
- fall sharply
- fracture a bone of (syn: fracture)
- diminish or discontinue abruptly
- weaken or destroy in spirit or body
show more (54)- move away or escape suddenly (syn: break away, break out)
- scatter or part
- force out or release suddenly and often violently something pent up (syn: burst, erupt)
- prevent completion (syn: break off, discontinue, stop)
- enter someone's (virtual or real) property in an unauthorized manner, usually with the intent to steal or commit a violent act (syn: break in)
- make submissive, obedient, or useful (syn: break in)
- fail to agree with; be in violation of; as of rules or patterns (syn: violate)
- surpass in excellence (syn: better)
- make known to the public information that was previously known only to a few people or that was meant to be kept a secret (syn: bring out, disclose, discover, divulge, expose, give away, let on, let out, reveal, uncover, unwrap)
- come into being
- stop operating or functioning (syn: break down, conk out, die, fail, give out, go)
- interrupt a continued activity (syn: break away)
- make a rupture in the ranks of the enemy or one's own by quitting or fleeing
- curl over and fall apart in surf or foam, of waves
- lessen in force or effect (syn: damp, dampen, soften, weaken)
- be broken in
- come to an end
- vary or interrupt a uniformity or continuity
- cause to give up a habit
- give up
- come forth or begin from a state of latency
- happen or take place
- cause the failure or ruin of
- invalidate by judicial action
- discontinue an association or relation; go different ways (syn: break up, part, separate, split, split up)
- assign to a lower position; reduce in rank (syn: bump, demote, relegate)
- reduce to bankruptcy (syn: bankrupt, ruin, smash)
- change directions suddenly
- emerge from the surface of a body of water
- break down, literally or metaphorically (syn: cave in, collapse, fall in, founder, give)
- do a break dance
- exchange for smaller units of money
- destroy the completeness of a set of related items (syn: break up)
- make the opening shot that scatters the balls
- separate from a clinch, in boxing
- go to pieces (syn: bust, wear, wear out)
- break a piece from a whole (syn: break off, snap off)
- become punctured or penetrated
- pierce or penetrate
- be released or become known; of news (syn: get around, get out)
- cease an action temporarily (syn: intermit, pause)
- interrupt the flow of current in
- undergo breaking
- find a flaw in
- find the solution or key to
- change suddenly from one tone quality or register to another
- happen (syn: develop, recrudesce)
- become fractured; break or crack on the surface only (syn: check, crack)
- crack; of the male voice in puberty
- fall sharply
- fracture a bone of (syn: fracture)
- diminish or discontinue abruptly
- weaken or destroy in spirit or body
Examples
She broke the cup when she dropped it on the floor.
Break the chocolate bar into pieces so that everyone can have some.
It is easiest to break a chain at its weakest link.
A chain will break at its weakest link.
The fall broke his arm.
His arm broke in three places when he fell.
A bruise forms when a blood vessel breaks under the skin.
The tank is reinforced to prevent breaks and leaks.
There was a break in the hedge.
We waited for a break in the traffic.
The fields extend for miles without a break.
We chatted during a break in the game.
All employees are entitled to two breaks during the workday.
We've been working all day without a break.
He fell through the window, breaking the glass.
Phrasal verbs
break away
— move away or escape suddenly
break down — make ineffective
break in — enter someone's (virtual or real) property in an unauthorized manner, usually with the intent to steal or commit a violent act
break off — interrupt before its natural or planned end
break out — start abruptly
break through — pass through (a barrier)
break up — to cause to separate and go in different directions
break down — make ineffective
break in — enter someone's (virtual or real) property in an unauthorized manner, usually with the intent to steal or commit a violent act
break off — interrupt before its natural or planned end
break out — start abruptly
break through — pass through (a barrier)
break up — to cause to separate and go in different directions
Word forms
verb
I/you/we/they: break
he/she/it: breaks
present participle: breaking
past tense: broke
past participle: broken
I/you/we/they: break
he/she/it: breaks
present participle: breaking
past tense: broke
past participle: broken
noun
singular: break
plural: breaks
singular: break
plural: breaks