(MOVE) [verb] [I] [past simple] broke, [past participle] broken - (of waves) to reach and move over the beach, hit a cliff or wall, etc.A huge wave broke on the shore/over the boat.(figurative) A wave of nationalism seemed poised to break over (= about to begin in) the socialist strongholds of the industrial valleys.
BREAK
Meaning of BREAK in English
Cambridge English vocab. Кембриджский английский словарь. 2012