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, faulting, 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)
- 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, faulting, 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
- 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
- a sudden dash
- any frame in which a bowler fails to make a strike or spare
- an escape from jail
- 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
- a sudden dash
- any frame in which a bowler fails to make a strike or spare
- an escape from jail
▼ (9)
verb ▼
- terminate (syn: interrupt)
- become separated into pieces or fragments (syn: separate)
- 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, infract, offend, transgress, violate)
- move away or escape suddenly
- become separated into pieces or fragments (syn: separate)
- 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, infract, offend, transgress, violate)
- move away or escape suddenly
- scatter or part
- force out or release suddenly and often violently something pent up
- prevent completion
- enter someone's (virtual or real) property in an unauthorized manner, usually with the intent to steal or commit a violent act
- make submissive, obedient, or useful
- fail to agree with; be in violation of; as of rules or patterns
- surpass in excellence
- make known to the public information that was previously known only to a few people or that was meant to be kept a secret
- come into being
- stop operating or functioning
- interrupt a continued activity
- 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
- 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
- assign to a lower position; reduce in rank
- reduce to bankruptcy
- change directions suddenly
- emerge from the surface of a body of water
- break down, literally or metaphorically
- do a break dance
- exchange for smaller units of money
- destroy the completeness of a set of related items
- make the opening shot that scatters the balls
- separate from a clinch, in boxing
- go to pieces
- break a piece from a whole
- become punctured or penetrated
- pierce or penetrate
- be released or become known; of news
- cease an action temporarily
- 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
- become fractured; break or crack on the surface only
- crack; of the male voice in puberty
- fall sharply
- fracture a bone of
- diminish or discontinue abruptly
- weaken or destroy in spirit or body
- force out or release suddenly and often violently something pent up
- prevent completion
- enter someone's (virtual or real) property in an unauthorized manner, usually with the intent to steal or commit a violent act
- make submissive, obedient, or useful
- fail to agree with; be in violation of; as of rules or patterns
- surpass in excellence
- make known to the public information that was previously known only to a few people or that was meant to be kept a secret
- come into being
- stop operating or functioning
- interrupt a continued activity
- 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
- 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
- assign to a lower position; reduce in rank
- reduce to bankruptcy
- change directions suddenly
- emerge from the surface of a body of water
- break down, literally or metaphorically
- do a break dance
- exchange for smaller units of money
- destroy the completeness of a set of related items
- make the opening shot that scatters the balls
- separate from a clinch, in boxing
- go to pieces
- break a piece from a whole
- become punctured or penetrated
- pierce or penetrate
- be released or become known; of news
- cease an action temporarily
- 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
- become fractured; break or crack on the surface only
- crack; of the male voice in puberty
- fall sharply
- fracture a bone of
- diminish or discontinue abruptly
- weaken or destroy in spirit or body
▼ (52)
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