Function: intransitive verb
Date: 15th century
1 a : to cease to exist as a unified whole : DISPERSE <their partnership broke up > b : to end a romance
2 : to lose morale, composure, or resolution especially : to become abandoned to laughter < breaks up completely, laughing himself into a coughing fit ― Gene Williams>
transitive verb
1 : to break into pieces
2 : to bring to an end < broke up the fight>
3 : to do away with : DESTROY < break up a monopoly>
4 : to disrupt the continuity or flow of < break up a dull routine>
5 : DECOMPOSE < break up a chemical>
6 : to cause to laugh heartily