~ 1
■ verb ( past broke ; past participle broken )
1》 separate into pieces as a result of a blow, shock, or strain.
↘(of waves) curl over and dissolve into foam.
↘(of the amniotic fluid surrounding a fetus) be discharged when the sac is ruptured in the first stages of labour.
2》 make or become inoperative.
3》 interrupt (a continuity, sequence, or journey).
↘stop so as to have a rest or holiday: they broke for coffee.
↘lessen the impact of (a fall).
↘disconnect or interrupt (an electric circuit).
4》 fail to observe (a law, regulation, or agreement).
5》 crush the strength, spirit, or resistance of.
6》 surpass (a record).
7》 (of an attacking player or a military force) make a rush or dash: Mitchell broke quickly, allowing Hughes to score.
8》 (of the weather) change suddenly, especially after a fine spell.
↘(of a storm) begin violently.
↘(of dawn or a day) begin as the sun rises.
9》 (of a person's voice) falter and change tone.
↘(of a boy's voice) change in tone and register at puberty.
10》 (of news) suddenly become public.
↘( ~ something to ) make bad news known to.
11》 succeed in deciphering (a code).
12》 use (a banknote) to pay for something and receive change.
13》 (of two boxers or wrestlers) come out of a clinch.
14》 make the first stroke at the beginning of a game of billiards, pool, or snooker.
15》 unfurl (a flag or sail).
16》 Phonetics (of a vowel) develop into a diphthong, under the influence of an adjacent sound.
■ noun
1》 an interruption or pause: a ~ with the past.
↘ Brit. an interval during the school day.
↘a short holiday.
↘a change of line, paragraph, or page: a page ~.
2》 a rush or dash, especially by an attacking player or team.
3》 informal an opportunity or chance.
4》 a gap or opening: a ~ in the hedge.
5》 an instance of ~ing, or the point where something is broken.
6》 (also ~ of serve or service ~ ) Tennis the winning of a game against an opponent's serve.
7》 Snooker & Billiards a consecutive series of successful shots, which scores a specified number of points.
↘a player's turn to make the opening shot of a game.
8》 a short solo or instrumental passage in jazz or popular music.
Phrases
~ one's back (or neck ) put great effort into achieving something.
~ the back of accomplish the main or hardest part of (a task).
~ even reach a point in a business when profits are equal to costs.
~ing and entering (in North American, and formerly also British, law) the crime of entering a building by force to commit burglary.
~ a leg! theatrical slang good luck!
~ of day dawn.
~ someone's serve win a game in a tennis match against an opponent's service.
~ ship Nautical fail to rejoin one's ship after absence on leave.
~ wind release gas from the anus.
give someone a ~ informal stop putting pressure on someone.
make a clean ~ remove oneself completely from a situation.
Phrasal verbs
~ away escape from the control or influence of a person or practice.
~ down
1》 cease to function or continue; fail.
2》 lose control of one's emotions when in distress.
~ in
1》 force entry to a building.
2》 interject.
~ something in
1》 accustom a horse to being ridden.
2》 wear shoes until they become supple and comfortable.
~ into
1》 enter forcibly.
2》 suddenly burst into (laughter, song, or faster movement).
~ something off abruptly end or discontinue something.
~ out
1》 (of something undesirable) start suddenly.
2》 escape.
~ out in be suddenly affected by an unpleasant sensation or condition.
~ something out informal open and start using something.
~ up
1》 (of a gathering or relationship) end or part company.
↘ chiefly Brit. end the school term.
2》 chiefly N. Amer. start laughing uncontrollably.
3》 chiefly N. Amer. become upset.
~ with
1》 quarrel or cease relations with.
2》 act in a way that is not in accordance with (a custom or tradition).
Derivatives
~able adjective &noun
~age noun
Origin
OE brecan (v.), of Gmc origin.
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~ 2
■ noun
1》 former term for ~ing cart .
2》 historical another term for brake 2 .
Origin
C19: perh. from C16 brake 'cage', later 'framework'.