breaking 1
/bray"king/ , n.
Phonol. the change of a pure vowel to a diphthong, esp. in certain environments, as, in Old English, the change of a vowel to a diphthong under the influence of a following consonant or combination of consonants, as the change of -a- to -ea- and of -e- to -eo- before preconsonantal r or l and before h, as in earm "arm" developed from arm, and eorthe "earth" from erthe. Also called vowel fracture .
[ 1870-75; trans. of G Brechung; see BREAK, -ING 1 ]
breaking 2
/bray"king/ , n.
See break dancing .
[ by ellipsis ]