BREAK

I. verb (broke; broken; ~ing) Etymology: Middle English breken, from Old English brecan; akin to Old High German brehhan to ~, Latin frangere Date: before 12th century transitive verb 1. to separate into parts with suddenness or violence, fracture , rupture , to cut into and turn over the surface of , to render inoperable , 2. violate , transgress , to invalidate (a will) by action at law, 3. to force entry into, to burst and force a way through , to escape by force from , to make or effect by cutting, forcing, or pressing through , to disrupt the order or compactness of , to make ineffective as a binding force , 6. to defeat utterly and end as an effective force ; destroy , to crush the spirit of , to make tractable or submissive: as, to train (an animal) to adjust to the service or convenience of humans , inure , accustom , to exhaust in health, strength, or capacity , 7. to stop or bring to an end suddenly ; halt , interrupt , suspend , to open and bring about suspension of operation , to destroy unity or completeness of , to change the appearance of uniformity of , to split the surface of , to cause to discontinue a habit , 8. to make known ; tell , to bring to attention or prominence initially , 9. to ruin financially , to reduce in rank , 10. to split into smaller units, parts, or processes ; divide , b. to give or get the equivalent of (a bill) in smaller denominations, to use as the denomination in paying a bill , 11. to check the speed, force, or intensity of , to cause failure and discontinuance of (a strike) by measures outside bargaining processes, to cause a sudden significant decrease in the price, value, or volume of , 13. exceed , surpass , to score less than (a specified total) , to win against (an opponent's service) in tennis, to make (a run) in football by getting past defenders , to open the action of (a breechloader), 15. to find an explanation or solution for ; solve , to discover the essentials of (a code or cipher system), to demonstrate the falsity of , to ruin the prospects of , to produce visibly , intransitive verb 1. to escape with sudden forceful effort , to come into being by or as if by bursting forth , to effect a penetration , to emerge through the surface of the water, to start abruptly , to become known or published , to make a sudden dash , to separate after a clinch in boxing, to achieve initial success in usually a sudden or striking way , to begin a race , 2. to come apart or split into pieces ; fragment , shatter , to open spontaneously or by pressure from within , to curl over and fall apart in surf or foam, to interrupt one's activity or occupation for a brief period , to alter sharply in tone, pitch, or intensity , to become fair ; clear , to make the opening shot of a game of pool, to end a relationship, connection, or agreement, to give way in disorderly retreat, 9. to swerve suddenly, to curve from a straight path , 10. to fail in health, strength, vitality, resolve, or control , to become inoperative because of damage, wear, or strain , to fail to keep a prescribed gait, to undergo a sudden significant decrease in price, value, or volume , happen , develop , to win against an opponent's service in tennis, 15. to divide into classes, categories, or types, to fold, bend, lift, or come apart at a seam, groove, or joint, to separate during churning into liquid and fat, II. noun Date: 14th century 1. an act or action of ~ing, the opening shot in a game of pool or billiards, 2. a condition produced by or as if by ~ing ; gap , a gap in an otherwise continuous electric circuit, the action or act of ~ing in, out, or forth , a place or situation at which a ~ occurs: as, the place at which a word is divided especially at the end of a line of print or writing, the point or location at which waves ~ for surfing, an interruption in continuity , a notable change of subject matter, attitude, or treatment, b. an abrupt, significant, or noteworthy change or interruption in a continuous process, trend, or surface, a respite from work, school, or duty , relief from annoyance, a planned interruption in a radio or television program , deviation of a pitched baseball from a straight line, fault , dislocation , failure of a horse to maintain the prescribed gait, an abrupt change in musical or vocal pitch or quality, the action or an instance of ~ing service in tennis, a usually solo instrumental passage in jazz, folk, or popular music, 6. dash , rush , fast ~ , a sudden and abrupt decline of prices or values, 8. the start of a race, the act of separating after a clinch in boxing, 9. a stroke of luck and especially of good luck , a favorable or opportune situation ; chance , favorable consideration or treatment , 10. a rupture in previously agreeable relations , an abrupt split or difference with something previously adhered to or followed , ~down 1c