(~s, ~ing, broke, broken)
Frequency: The word is one of the 700 most common words in English.
1.
When an object ~s or when you ~ it, it suddenly separates into two or more pieces, often because it has been hit or dropped.
He fell through the window, ~ing the glass...
The plate broke...
Break the cauliflower into florets...
The plane broke into three pieces.
...bombed-out buildings, surrounded by broken glass and rubble...
The only sound was the crackle of ~ing ice.
VERB: V n, V, V n into pl-n, V into pl-n, V-ed, V-ing
2.
If you ~ a part of your body such as your leg, your arm, or your nose, or if a bone ~s, you are injured because a bone cracks or splits.
She broke a leg in a skiing accident...
Old bones ~ easily...
Several people were treated for broken bones.
VERB: V n, V, V-ed
•
Break is also a noun.
It has caused a bad ~ to Gabriella’s leg.
N-COUNT
3.
If a surface, cover, or seal ~s or if something ~s it, a hole or tear is made in it, so that a substance can pass through.
Once you’ve broken the seal of a bottle there’s no way you can put it back together again...
The bandage must be put on when the blister ~s...
Do not use the cream on broken skin.
VERB: V n, V, V-ed
4.
When a tool or piece of machinery ~s or when you ~ it, it is damaged and no longer works.
When the clutch broke, the car was locked into second gear...
The lead biker broke his bike chain.
VERB: V, V n, also V-ed
5.
If you ~ a rule, promise, or agreement, you do something that you should not do according to that rule, promise, or agreement.
We didn’t know we were ~ing the law.
...broken promises.
VERB: V n, V-ed
6.
If you ~ free or loose, you free yourself from something or escape from it.
She broke free by thrusting her elbow into his chest.
VERB: V adj
7.
If someone ~s something, especially a difficult or unpleasant situation that has existed for some time, they end it or change it.
New proposals have been put forward to ~ the deadlock among rival factions...
The country is heading towards elections which may ~ the party’s long hold on power.
VERB: V n, V n
•
Break is also a noun.
Nothing that might lead to a ~ in the deadlock has been discussed yet.
N-COUNT: usu sing
8.
If someone or something ~s a silence, they say something or make a noise after a long period of silence.
Hugh broke the silence. ‘Is she always late?’ he asked...
VERB: V n
9.
If there is a ~ in the cloud or weather, it changes and there is a short period of sunshine or fine weather.
A sudden ~ in the cloud allowed rescuers to spot Michael Benson.
N-COUNT
10.
If you ~ with a group of people or a traditional way of doing things, or you ~ your connection with them, you stop being involved with that group or stop doing things in that way.
In 1959, Akihito broke with imperial tradition by marrying a commoner...
They were determined to ~ from precedent...
They have yet to ~ the link with the trade unions.
VERB: V with n, V from n, V n with n, also V n
•
Break is also a noun.
Making a completely clean ~ with the past, the couple got rid of all their old furniture.
N-COUNT: usu sing
11.
If you ~ a habit or if someone ~s you of it, you no longer have that habit.
If you continue to smoke, keep trying to ~ the habit...
The professor hoped to ~ the students of the habit of looking for easy answers.
VERB: V n, V n of n
12.
To ~ someone means to destroy their determination and courage, their success, or their career.
He never let his jailers ~ him...
Ken’s wife, Vicki, said: ‘He’s a broken man.’
= destroy
VERB: V n, V-ed
13.
If someone ~s for a short period of time, they rest or change from what they are doing for a short period.
They broke for lunch.
VERB: V
14.
A ~ is a short period of time when you have a rest or a change from what you are doing, especially if you are working or if you are in a boring or unpleasant situation.
They may be able to help with childcare so that you can have a ~...
I thought a 15 min ~ from his work would do him good...
She rang Moira during a coffee ~.
N-COUNT: oft N from/in n
see also lunch ~ , tea ~
15.
A ~ is a short holiday.
They are currently taking a short ~ in Spain.
N-COUNT
16.
If you ~ your journey somewhere, you stop there for a short time so that you can have a rest.
Because of the heat we broke our journey at a small country hotel.
VERB: V n
17.
To ~ the force of something such as a blow or fall means to weaken its effect, for example by getting in the way of it.
He sustained serious neck injuries after he broke someone’s fall.
VERB: V n
18.
When a piece of news ~s, people hear about it from the newspapers, television, or radio.
The news broke that the Prime Minister had resigned...
He resigned from his post as Bishop when the scandal broke.
VERB: V, V
19.
When you ~ a piece of bad news to someone, you tell it to them, usually in a kind way.
Then Louise broke the news that she was leaving me...
I worried for ages and decided that I had better ~ it to her.
VERB: V n, V n to n
20.
A ~ is a lucky opportunity that someone gets to achieve something. (INFORMAL)
He went into TV and got his first ~ playing opposite Sid James in the series ‘Citizen James’.
N-COUNT
21.
If you ~ a record, you beat the previous record for a particular achievement.
Jurassic Park had broken all box office records.
VERB: V n
see also record-~ing
22.
When day or dawn ~s, it starts to grow light after the night has ended.
They continued the search as dawn broke.
VERB: V
see also day~
23.
When a wave ~s, it passes its highest point and turns downwards, for example when it reaches the shore.
Danny listened to the waves ~ing against the shore.
VERB: V
24.
If you ~ a secret code, you work out how to understand it.
It was feared they could ~ the Allies’ codes.
= crack
VERB: V n
25.
If someone’s voice ~s when they are speaking, it changes its sound, for example because they are sad or afraid.
Godfrey’s voice broke, and halted.
VERB: V
26.
When a boy’s voice ~s, it becomes deeper and sounds more like a man’s voice.
He sings with the strained discomfort of someone whose voice hasn’t quite broken.
VERB: V
27.
If the weather ~s or a storm ~s, it suddenly becomes rainy or stormy after a period of sunshine.
I’ve been waiting for the weather to ~...
VERB: V
28.
In tennis, if you ~ your opponent’s serve, you win a game in which your opponent is serving.
He broke McEnroe’s serve.
VERB: V n
•
Break is also a noun.
A single ~ of serve settled the first two sets.
N-COUNT
29.
see also broke , broken , heart~ , heart~ing , heartbroken , out~
30.
The ~ of day or the ~ of dawn is the time when it begins to grow light after the night. (LITERARY)
‘I,’ he finished poetically, ‘will watch over you to the ~ of day.’
PHRASE: prep PHR
31.
You can say ‘give me a ~’ to show that you are annoyed by what someone has said or done. (INFORMAL)
‘I’m a real intellectual-type guy, Tracy,’ James joked. ‘Oh, give me a ~,’ Tracy moaned.
CONVENTION feelings
32.
If you make a ~ or make a ~ for it, you run to escape from something.
The moment had come to make a ~ or die...
PHRASE: V inflects
33.
to ~ cover: see cover
to ~ even: see even
to ~ new ground: see ground
to ~ someone’s heart: see heart
all hell ~s loose: see hell
to ~ the ice: see ice
to ~ ranks: see rank
to ~ wind: see wind