I. ˈ ̷ ̷ ̷ ̷ˌ ̷ ̷ noun
( plural breakaways -āz ; also breaks·away -ksəˌwā)
Etymology: break away
1. : an act or instance of breaking away (as from a group, affiliation, standard, or tradition)
a breakaway by this discontented faction
a breakaway from classical tradition
2. Australia
a. : a stampede especially of cattle or sheep
b. : an animal that breaks away from the herd
3.
a. : a premature start of one or more contestants in a race ; sometimes : the start of a race or speed trial
b. : the moment when hunting dogs are cast off by the handler
c. : a sudden offensive rush toward an opponent's goal
4. : a theatrical prop (as a chair) made to shatter harmlessly on slight pressure or impact
belaboring each other with breakaways in fight scenes
5. Australia : an escarpment overlooking a plain or at the edge of a plateau
6. : a scrummager who does not usually push but waits in readiness to break away from the scrum immediately after the ball comes out
II. adjective
1. Britain : given to breaking away : favoring disaffiliation from a group : operating as independent of an original affiliation
a breakaway union
a breakaway movement
2.
a. : made as a breakaway : constructed to break, shatter, or bend with slight pressure
to slug it out with fists and breakaway chairs right up in front of the camera — Gary Cooper
b. : constructed for very fast dismounting or changing
breakaway sets cutting time spent between scenes of the play
III. noun
: a sudden acceleration by one or more bicyclists pulling away from the pack in a race