ˈbrākiŋ, -kēŋ noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English breking act of demolishing, from gerund of breken to break — more at break
1.
[translation of German brechung ]
: change of a simple vowel sound into a diphthong whether through the influence of a nearby sound (as in Old English weorc “work” with eo from earlier e before r plus consonant) or regardless of phonetic environment (as in Italian nuovo “new” from Latin novus )
2. : break II 4k(1)
3. : plowed virgin sod land