I. ˈbrāk verb
( broke ˈbrōk ; bro·ken ˈbrō-kən ; break·ing )
Etymology: Middle English breken, from Old English brecan; akin to Old High German brehhan to break, Latin frangere
Date: before 12th century
transitive verb
1.
a. : to separate into parts with suddenness or violence
b. : fracture
break an arm
c. : rupture
break the skin
d. : to cut into and turn over the surface of
break the soil
e. : to render inoperable
broke his watch
2.
a. : violate , transgress
break the law
break a promise
b. : to invalidate (a will) by action at law
3.
a. archaic : to force entry into
b. : to burst and force a way through
break the sound barrier
break a racial barrier
c. : to escape by force from
break jail
d. : to make or effect by cutting, forcing, or pressing through
break a trail through the woods
4. : to disrupt the order or compactness of
break formation
5. : to make ineffective as a binding force
break the spell
6.
a. : to defeat utterly and end as an effective force : destroy
used starvation to break the enemy
b. : to crush the spirit of
brutal methods broke the prisoner
c. : to make tractable or submissive: as
(1) past participle often broke : to train (an animal) to adjust to the service or convenience of humans
a halter- broke horse
(2) : inure , accustom
d. : to exhaust in health, strength, or capacity
broken by his struggle for power
7.
a. : to stop or bring to an end suddenly : halt
break a deadlock
b. : interrupt , suspend
break the silence with a cry
c. : to open and bring about suspension of operation
break an electric circuit
d. : to destroy unity or completeness of
break a dining room set by buying a chair
e. : to change the appearance of uniformity of
a dormer break s the level roof
f. : to split the surface of
fish break ing water
g. : to cause to discontinue a habit
tried to break him of smoking
8.
a. : to make known : tell
break the bad news gently
b. : to bring to attention or prominence initially
radio stations break ing new musicians
break a news story
9.
a. : to ruin financially
break the bank
b. : to reduce in rank
broken from sergeant to private
10.
a. : to split into smaller units, parts, or processes : divide
b.
(1) : to give or get the equivalent of (a bill) in smaller denominations
(2) : to use as the denomination in paying a bill
didn't want to break a $20 bill
— often used with into, up, or down
11.
a. : to check the speed, force, or intensity of
the bushes will break his fall
without break ing her stride
b. : to cause failure and discontinuance of (a strike) by measures outside bargaining processes
12. : to cause a sudden significant decrease in the price, value, or volume of
news likely to break the market sharply
13.
a. : exceed , surpass
break the record
b. : to score less than (a specified total)
a golfer trying to break 90
c. : to win against (an opponent's service) in tennis
d. : to make (a run) in football by getting past defenders
broke a 20-yard run
14. : to open the action of (a breechloader)
15.
a. : to find an explanation or solution for : solve
the detective broke the case
b. : to discover the essentials of (a code or cipher system)
16. : to demonstrate the falsity of
break an alibi
17. : to ruin the prospects of
could make or break her career
18. : to produce visibly
barely break s a sweat
intransitive verb
1.
a. : to escape with sudden forceful effort
the attacker broke from the throng
b. : to come into being by or as if by bursting forth
day was break ing
c. : to effect a penetration
break through security lines
d. : to emerge through the surface of the water
e. : to start abruptly
when the storm broke
f. : to become known or published
when the news broke
g. : to make a sudden dash
break for cover
h. : to separate after a clinch in boxing
i. : to achieve initial success in usually a sudden or striking way
her song broke nationally
j. : to begin a race
the horse broke poorly
2.
a. : to come apart or split into pieces : fragment , shatter
the cup broke when it fell
b. : to open spontaneously or by pressure from within
the blister broke
c. of a wave : to curl over and fall apart in surf or foam
3. : to interrupt one's activity or occupation for a brief period
break for lunch
4. : to alter sharply in tone, pitch, or intensity
a voice break ing with emotion
5. : to become fair : clear
when the weather break s
6. : to make the opening shot of a game of pool
7. : to end a relationship, connection, or agreement — usually used with with or from
8. : to give way in disorderly retreat
9.
a. : to swerve suddenly
b. : to curve from a straight path
a pitch that break s away from the batter
a putt that break s left
10.
a. : to fail in health, strength, vitality, resolve, or control
may break under questioning
b. : to become inoperative because of damage, wear, or strain
the pump broke
11. : to fail to keep a prescribed gait — used of a horse
12. : to undergo a sudden significant decrease in price, value, or volume
transportation stocks may break sharply
13. : happen , develop
for the team to succeed, everything has to break right
14. : to win against an opponent's service in tennis
15.
a. : to divide into classes, categories, or types — usually used with into
the rose is broken into several varieties
b. : to fold, bend, lift, or come apart at a seam, groove, or joint
c. of cream : to separate during churning into liquid and fat
•
- break a leg
- break bread
- break camp
- break cover
- break even
- break free
- break ground
- break into
- break one's heart
- break one's wrists
- break ranks
- break the back of
- break the ice
- break wind
II. noun
Date: 14th century
1.
a. : an act or action of breaking
b. : the opening shot in a game of pool or billiards
2.
a. : a condition produced by or as if by breaking : gap
a break in the clouds
b. : a gap in an otherwise continuous electric circuit
3. : the action or act of breaking in, out, or forth
at break of day
a jail break
4. : a place or situation at which a break occurs: as
a. : the place at which a word is divided especially at the end of a line of print or writing
b. : the point or location at which waves break for surfing
5. : an interruption in continuity
a break in the weather
as
a. : a notable change of subject matter, attitude, or treatment
b.
(1) : an abrupt, significant, or noteworthy change or interruption in a continuous process, trend, or surface
(2) : a respite from work, school, or duty
coffee break
spring break
(3) : relief from annoyance — often used to express exasperation or irritation in phrases like give me a break
(4) : a planned interruption in a radio or television program
a break for the commercial
c. : deviation of a pitched baseball from a straight line
d. mining : fault , dislocation
e. : failure of a horse to maintain the prescribed gait
f. : an abrupt change in musical or vocal pitch or quality
g. : the action or an instance of breaking service in tennis
h. : a usually solo instrumental passage in jazz, folk, or popular music
6.
a. : dash , rush
a base runner making a break for home
b. : fast break
7. : a sudden and abrupt decline of prices or values
8.
a. : the start of a race
b. : the act of separating after a clinch in boxing
9.
a. : a stroke of luck and especially of good luck
a bad break
got the break s
b. : a favorable or opportune situation : chance
waiting for a big break in show business
c. : favorable consideration or treatment
a tax break
a break on the price
10.
a. : a rupture in previously agreeable relations
a break between the two countries
b. : an abrupt split or difference with something previously adhered to or followed
a sharp break with tradition
11. : breakdown 1c
suffered a mental break