break
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break
separate; destroy; fracture: break a leg
Not to be confused with:
brake – reduce speed; a retarding device: apply the brakes
Abused, Confused, & Misused Words by Mary Embree Copyright © 2007, 2013 by Mary Embree
break
(brāk)v. broke (brōk), bro·ken (brō′kən), break·ing, breaks
v.tr.
1. To cause to separate into pieces suddenly or violently; smash.
2.
a. To divide into pieces, as by bending or cutting: break crackers for a baby.
b. To separate into components or parts: broke the work into discrete tasks.
3. To snap off or detach: broke a twig from the tree.
4.
a. To cause to undergo a fracture of (a bone, for example): The impact of the fall broke his leg.
b. To experience a fracture in (a bone, for example): I broke my wrist when skateboarding.
5. To crack without separating into pieces: broke the mirror.
6.
a. To destroy the completeness of (a group of related items): broke the set of books by giving some away.
b. To exchange for smaller monetary units: break a dollar.
7. To vary or disrupt the uniformity or continuity of: a plain that was broken by low hills; caught the ball without breaking stride.
8. Electricity To render (a circuit) inoperative by disruption; open.
9. To open (a shotgun or similar firearm) at the breech, as for loading or cleaning.
10.
a. To force or make a way through; puncture or penetrate: The blade barely broke the skin.
b. To part or pierce the surface of: a dolphin breaking water.
11. To produce (a sweat) copiously on the skin, as from exercise.
12. To force one's way out of; escape from: break jail.
13. To make or bring about by cutting or forcing: break a trail through the woods.
14.
a. To find an opening or flaw in: They couldn't break my alibi.
b. To find the solution or key to; uncover the basic elements and arrangement of: break a code; break a spy ring.
15. To make known, as news: break a story.
16. To surpass or outdo: broke the league's home-run record.
17. To overcome or put an end to, especially by force or strong opposition: break a deadlock in negotiations; break a strike.
18. Sports To win a game on (an opponent's service), as in tennis.
19. To lessen the force or effect of: break a fall.
20. To render useless or inoperative: We accidentally broke the radio.
21. To weaken or destroy, as in spirit or health; overwhelm with adversity: "For a hero loves the world till it breaks him" (William Butler Yeats).
22. To cause the ruin or failure of (an enterprise, for example): Indiscretion broke both marriage and career.
23. To reduce in rank; demote.
24. To cause to be without money or to go into bankruptcy.
25. To fail to fulfill; cancel: break an engagement.
26. To fail to conform to; violate: break the speed limit.
27. Law To cause (a will) to be invalidated because of inconsistency with state inheritance laws or as a result of other legal insufficiency.
28.
a. To give up (a habit).
b. To cause to give up a habit: They managed to break themselves of smoking.
29. To train to obey; tame: The horse was difficult to break.
v.intr.
1. To become separated into pieces or fragments.
2. To become cracked or split.
3. To become fractured: His arm broke from the fall.
4. To become unusable or inoperative: The television broke.
5. To give way; collapse: The scaffolding broke during the storm.
6. To burst: The blister broke.
7.
a. To intrude: They broke in upon our conversation.
b. To filter in or penetrate: Sunlight broke into the room.
8. To scatter or disperse; part: The clouds broke after the storm.
9. Games To make the opening shot that scatters the grouped balls in billiards or pool.
10. Sports To separate from a clinch in boxing.
11. Sports To win a game on the opponent's service, as in tennis: broke twice in the first set.
12. To move away or escape suddenly: broke from his grip and ran off.
13. To come forth or begin from a state of latency; come into being or emerge: A storm was breaking over Miami. Crocuses broke from the soil.
14. To emerge above the surface of water.
15. To become known or noticed: The big story broke on Friday.
16. To change direction or move suddenly: The quarterback broke to the left to avoid a tackler.
17. Baseball To curve near or over the plate: The pitch broke away from the batter.
18. To change suddenly from one tone quality or musical register to another: His voice broke into a falsetto.
19. Linguistics To undergo breaking.
20. To change to a gait different from the one set. Used of a horse.
21. To interrupt or cease an activity: We'll break for coffee at ten.
22. To discontinue an association, an agreement, or a relationship: The partners broke over a financial matter. One hates to break with an old friend.
23. To diminish or discontinue abruptly: The fever is breaking.
24. To diminish in or lose physical or spiritual strength; weaken or succumb: Their good cheer broke after repeated setbacks.
25. To decrease sharply in value or quantity: Stock prices broke when the firm suddenly announced layoffs.
26. To come to an end: The cold spell broke yesterday.
27. To collapse or crash into surf or spray: waves that were breaking along the shore.
28. Informal To take place or happen; proceed: Things have been breaking well for them.
29. To engage in breaking; break dance.
n.
Phrasal Verbs: 1. The act or an occurrence of breaking.
2. The result of breaking, as a crack, separation, or opening: a break in the clouds.
3. The beginning or emergence of something: the break of day.
4. A sudden movement; a dash: The dog made a break toward the open field.
5. An escape: a prison break.
6. An interruption or a disruption in continuity or regularity: television programming without commercial breaks.
7. A pause or interval, as from work: a coffee break.
8. A sudden or marked change: a break in the weather.
9. A violation: a security break.
10. An often sudden piece of luck, especially good luck: finally got the big break in life.
11. Informal
a. An allowance or indulgence; accommodating treatment: The boss gave me a break because I'd been sick.
b. A favorable price or reduction: a tax break for charitable contributions.
12. A severing of ties: made a break with the past; a break between the two families.
13. Informal A faux pas.
14. A sudden decline in prices.
15. A caesura.
16. Printing
a. The space between two paragraphs.
b. A series of three dots ( ... ) used to indicate an omission in a text.
c. The place where a word is or should be divided at the end of a line.
17. Electricity Interruption of a flow of current.
18. Geology A marked change in topography such as a fault or deep valley.
19. Nautical The point of discontinuity between two levels on the deck of a ship.
20. Music
a. The point at which one register or tonal quality changes to another.
b. The change itself.
c. An improvised instrumental solo played in jazz and other popular music while the other musicians stop or play softly.
21. A change in a horse's gait to one different from that set by the rider.
22. Sports The swerving of a ball from a straight path of flight, as in baseball or cricket.
23. Sports The beginning of a race.
24. Sports
a. A fast break.
b. The separation after a clinch in boxing.
25. Games The opening shot that scatters the grouped balls in billiards or pool.
26. Games A run or unbroken series of successful shots, as in billiards or croquet.
27. Sports & Games Failure to score a strike or a spare in a given bowling frame.
28. Sports A service break.
29. Variant of brake6.
30. Break dancing.
break away
1. To separate or detach oneself, as from a group.
2. To move rapidly away from or ahead of a group: The cyclist broke away from the pack.
3. To discontinue customary practice.
break down
1. To cause to collapse; destroy: break down a partition; broke down our resolve.
2. To become or cause to become distressed or upset. To have a physical or mental collapse.
3. To give up resistance; give way: prejudices that break down slowly.
4. To fail to function; cease to be useful, effective, or operable: The elevator broke down.
5. To render or become weak or ineffective: Opposition to the king's rule gradually broke down his authority.
6. To divide into or consider in parts; analyze. To be divisible; admit of analysis: The population breaks down into three main groups.
7. To decompose or cause to decompose chemically.
8. Electricity To undergo a breakdown.
break in
1. To train or adapt for a purpose.
2. To loosen or soften with use: break in new shoes.
3. To enter premises forcibly or illegally: a prowler who was trying to break in.
4. To interrupt a conversation or discussion. To intrude.
5. To begin an activity or undertaking: The Senator broke in during the war years.
break into
1. To interrupt: "No one would have dared to break into his abstraction" (Alan Paton).
2. To begin suddenly: The horse broke into a wild gallop. The child broke into a flood of tears.
3. To enter (a field of activity): broke into broadcast journalism at an early age.
break off
1. To separate or become separated, as by twisting or tearing.
2. To stop suddenly, as in speaking.
3. To discontinue (a relationship). To cease to be friendly.
break out
1. To become affected with a skin eruption, such as pimples.
2. To develop suddenly and forcefully: Fighting broke out in the prison cells.
3. To ready for action or use: Break out the rifles! To bring forth for consumption: Let's break out the champagne.
4. To emerge or escape.
5. To be separable or classifiable into categories, as data.
6. To isolate (information) from a large body of data.
break through
To make a sudden, quick advance, as through an obstruction.
break up
Idioms: 1. To separate or be separated into pieces: She broke up a chocolate bar. The river ice finally broke up. To interrupt the uniformity or continuity of: An impromptu visit broke up the long afternoon.
2. To scatter; disperse: The crowd broke up after the game.
3. To cease to function or cause to stop functioning as an organized unit or group: His jazz band broke up. The new CEO broke up the corporation.
4. To bring or come to an end: Guards broke up the fight. They argued, and their friendship broke up.
5. Informal To burst or cause to burst into laughter.
break a leg
Used to wish someone, such as an actor, success in a performance.
break bread
To eat together.
break camp
To pack up equipment and leave a campsite.
break cover
To emerge from a protected location or hiding place: The platoon broke cover and headed down the road.
break even
To gain an amount equal to that invested, as in a commercial venture.
break ground
1. To begin a new construction project.
2. To advance beyond previous achievements.
break new ground
To advance beyond previous achievements: broke new ground in the field of computers.
break (one's) neck
To make the utmost possible effort.
break rank/ranks
1. To fall into disorder, as a formation of soldiers.
2. To fail to conform to a prevailing or expected pattern or order: "Architectural experts have criticized the plaza in the past because it breaks rank with the distinctive façades of neighboring Fifth Avenue blocks, whose buildings are flush with the sidewalk" (Sharon Churcher).
break (someone's) heart
To disappoint or dispirit someone severely.
break the bank
To require more money than is available.
break the buck
To fall below the value of one dollar. Used of the net asset value of a mutual fund, especially a money market fund.
break the ice
1. To make a start.
2. To relax a tense or unduly formal atmosphere or social situation.
break wind
To expel intestinal gas.
Synonyms: break, crack, fracture, burst, splinter, shatter, smash
These verbs mean to become separated into parts or pieces, either by the sudden application of force or by the pressure of internal stress. Break is the most general: That delicate ornament will break easily. The bag held so many heavy things that it broke.
To crack is to break without dividing into parts: The building's foundation cracked during the earthquake.
Crack can also mean to break apart: "Burning branches crack from trees and fall in showers of sparks at my feet" (Suzanne Collins).
Fracture applies to a break or crack in a rigid body: Heat and pressure caused the bedrock to fracture.
Burst implies a sudden coming apart, especially from internal pressure: "Even when their bellies seemed about to burst, their mouths craved more and they drank on" (Ian McEwan).
Splinter implies splitting into long, thin, sharp pieces: The boat's hull splintered when it hit the reef.
To shatter is to break into many scattered pieces: The icicle shattered when it landed on the front steps.
Smash stresses force of blow or impact and suggests complete destruction: I dropped the vase, and it smashed into pieces.
All of these verbs can also be used transitively (that is, they can take a direct object) as in break the glass or fracture your arm. See Also Synonyms at opportunity.
These verbs mean to become separated into parts or pieces, either by the sudden application of force or by the pressure of internal stress. Break is the most general: That delicate ornament will break easily. The bag held so many heavy things that it broke.
To crack is to break without dividing into parts: The building's foundation cracked during the earthquake.
Crack can also mean to break apart: "Burning branches crack from trees and fall in showers of sparks at my feet" (Suzanne Collins).
Fracture applies to a break or crack in a rigid body: Heat and pressure caused the bedrock to fracture.
Burst implies a sudden coming apart, especially from internal pressure: "Even when their bellies seemed about to burst, their mouths craved more and they drank on" (Ian McEwan).
Splinter implies splitting into long, thin, sharp pieces: The boat's hull splintered when it hit the reef.
To shatter is to break into many scattered pieces: The icicle shattered when it landed on the front steps.
Smash stresses force of blow or impact and suggests complete destruction: I dropped the vase, and it smashed into pieces.
All of these verbs can also be used transitively (that is, they can take a direct object) as in break the glass or fracture your arm. See Also Synonyms at opportunity.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
break
(breɪk)vb, breaks, breaking, broke or broken
1. to separate or become separated into two or more pieces: this cup is broken.
2. to damage or become damaged so as to be inoperative: my radio is broken.
3. to crack or become cracked without separating
4. to burst or cut the surface of (skin, etc)
5. to discontinue or become discontinued: they broke for lunch; to break a journey.
6. to disperse or become dispersed: the clouds broke.
7. (tr) to fail to observe (an agreement, promise, law, etc): to break one's word.
8. (foll by with) to discontinue an association (with)
9. to disclose or be disclosed: he broke the news gently.
10. (Pathology) (tr) to fracture (a bone) in (a limb, etc)
11. (tr) to divide (something complete or perfect): to break a set of books.
12. to bring or come to an end: the summer weather broke at last.
13. (tr) to bring to an end by or as if by force: to break a strike.
14. (when: intr, often foll by out) to escape (from): he broke jail; he broke out of jail.
15. to weaken or overwhelm or be weakened or overwhelmed, as in spirit
16. (tr) to cut through or penetrate: a cry broke the silence.
17. (tr) to improve on or surpass: to break a record.
18. (Horse Training, Riding & Manège) (often foll by: in) to accustom (a horse) to the bridle and saddle, to being ridden, etc
19. (often foll by: of) to cause (a person) to give up (a habit): this cure will break you of smoking.
20. (tr) to weaken the impact or force of: this net will break his fall.
21. (tr) to decipher: to break a code.
22. (tr) to lose the order of: to break ranks.
23. (tr) to reduce to poverty or the state of bankruptcy
24. (when: intr, foll by into) to obtain, give, or receive smaller units in exchange for; change: to break a pound note.
25. (Military) (tr) chiefly military to demote to a lower rank
26. (intr; often foll by from or out of) to proceed suddenly
27. (intr) to come into being: light broke over the mountains.
28. (intr; foll by into or out into)
a. to burst into song, laughter, etc
b. to change to a faster pace
29. (tr) to open with explosives: to break a safe.
30. (Physical Geography) (intr) (of waves)
a. (often foll by against) to strike violently
b. to collapse into foam or surf
31. (intr) (esp of fish) to appear above the surface of the water
32. (Gynaecology & Obstetrics) (intr) (of the amniotic fluid surrounding an unborn baby) to be released when the amniotic sac ruptures in the first stage of labour: her waters have broken.
33. (intr) informal chiefly US to turn out in a specified manner: things are breaking well.
34. (Stock Exchange) (intr) (of prices, esp stock exchange quotations) to fall sharply
35. (Individual Sports, other than specified) (intr) to make a sudden effort, as in running, horse racing, etc
36. (Cricket) (intr) cricket (of a ball) to change direction on bouncing
37. (Cricket) (tr) cricket (of a player) to knock down at least one bail from (a wicket)
38. (Billiards & Snooker) (intr) billiards snooker to scatter the balls at the start of a game
39. (Horse Racing) (intr) horse racing to commence running in a race: they broke even.
40. (Boxing) (intr) boxing wrestling (of two fighters) to separate from a clinch
41. (Wrestling) (intr) boxing wrestling (of two fighters) to separate from a clinch
42. (Music, other) (intr) music
a. (of the male voice) to undergo a change in register, quality, and range at puberty
b. (of the voice or some instruments) to undergo a change in tone, quality, etc, when changing registers
43. (Phonetics & Phonology) (intr) phonetics (of a vowel) to turn into a diphthong, esp as a development in the language
44. (Firearms, Gunnery, Ordnance & Artillery) (tr) to open the breech of (certain firearms) by snapping the barrel away from the butt on its hinge
45. (Electronics) (tr) to interrupt the flow of current in (an electrical circuit). Compare make127
46. (intr) informal chiefly US to become successful; make a breakthrough
47. to eat a meal, esp with others
48. (Ecclesiastical Terms) Christianity to administer or participate in Holy Communion
49. break camp to pack up equipment and leave a camp
50. break ground break new ground to do something that has not been done before
51. break one's back to overwork or work very hard
52. break the back of to complete the greatest or hardest part of (a task)
53. break the bank to ruin financially or deplete the resources of a bank (as in gambling)
54. break the ice
a. to relieve shyness or reserve, esp between strangers
b. to be the first of a group to do something
55. break the mould to make a change that breaks an established habit, pattern, etc
56. (Tennis) break service tennis to win a game in which an opponent is serving
57. (Physiology) break wind to emit wind from the anus
n
58. (Pathology) the act or result of breaking; fracture
59. a crack formed as the result of breaking
60. a brief respite or interval between two actions: a break from one's toil.
61. a sudden rush, esp to escape: to make a break for freedom.
62. a breach in a relationship: she has made a break from her family.
63. any sudden interruption in a continuous action
64. (Education) Brit a short period between classes at school. US and Canadian equivalent: recess
65. informal a fortunate opportunity, esp to prove oneself
66. informal a piece of (good or bad) luck
67. (Stock Exchange) (esp in a stock exchange) a sudden and substantial decline in prices
68. (Poetry) prosody a pause in a line of verse; caesura
69. (Billiards & Snooker) billiards snooker
a. a series of successful shots during one turn
b. the points scored in such a series
70. (Billiards & Snooker) billiards snooker
a. the opening shot with the cue ball that scatters the placed balls
b. the right to take this first shot
71. (Tennis) tennis Also called: service break or break of serve the act or instance of breaking an opponent's service
72. (Individual Sports, other than specified) one of the intervals in a sporting contest
73. (Horse Racing) horse racing the start of a race: an even break.
74. (Bowls & Bowling) (in tenpin bowling) failure to knock down all the pins after the second attempt
75. (Jazz)
a. jazz a short usually improvised solo passage
b. an instrumental passage in a pop song
76. (Electronics) a discontinuity in an electrical circuit
77. (Broadcasting) access to a radio channel by a citizens' band operator
78. (Automotive Engineering) a variant spelling of brake16
interj
79. (Boxing) boxing wrestling a command by a referee for two opponents to separate
80. (Wrestling) boxing wrestling a command by a referee for two opponents to separate
[Old English brecan; related to Old Frisian breka, Gothic brikan, Old High German brehhan, Latin frangere Sanskrit bhráj bursting forth]
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
break
(breɪk)v. broke, bro•ken, break•ing,
n. v.t.
1. to smash, split, or divide into parts violently.
2. to disable or destroy by or as if by shattering or crushing: I broke my watch.
3. to violate or disregard (a law, promise, etc.).
4. to fracture a bone of.
5. to rupture the surface of: to break the skin.
6. to destroy or disrupt the regularity, uniformity, or continuity of; interrupt: A scream broke the silence.
7. to put an end to: to break a tie.
8. to discover the system, key, etc., for decoding or deciphering (a code, cryptogram, etc.).
9. to remove a part from (a set or collection).
10. to exchange for or divide into smaller units: to break a ten dollar bill.
11. to make a way through; penetrate: The stone broke the surface of the water.
12. to escape from, esp. by force: to break jail.
13. to better (a score or record).
14. to disclose or reveal: They broke the bad news to us.
15. to solve: to break a murder case.
16. to ruin financially; bankrupt.
17. to overcome or wear down the spirit, strength, or resistance of.
18. to reduce in rank.
19. to lessen or weaken the power, impact, or intensity of: His arm broke the blow.
20. to train to obedience; tame: to break a horse.
21. to train away from a habit or practice (usu. fol. by of).
22. to contest (a will) successfully by judicial action.
23. to render (an electronic circuit) incomplete; stop the flow of (a current).
24. (in tennis and other racket games) to score frequently or win against (an opponent's serve).
25. to prove the falsity of: The FBI broke his alibi.
26. to begin or initiate (a plan or campaign).
27. to open the breech or action of (a shotgun, rifle, or revolver).
v.i. 28. to separate into parts or fragments, esp. suddenly and violently; shatter; burst.
29. to become inoperative or malfunction, as through wear or damage.
30. to become suddenly discontinuous or interrupted; stop abruptly.
31. to become detached, separated, or disassociated: to break with the past.
32. to begin uttering a sound or series of sounds suddenly: to break into song.
33. to express or start to express an emotion or mood, esp. suddenly: Her face broke into a smile.
34. (of a news item) to be released, published, or aired.
35. to free oneself or escape suddenly, as from restraint.
36. to run or dash toward something suddenly (usu. fol. by for): He broke for the goal line.
37. to force a way: The hunters broke through the underbrush.
38. to burst or rupture: A blood vessel broke.
39. to interrupt or halt an activity: Let's break for lunch.
40. to appear or arrive suddenly: A deer broke into the clearing.
41. to dawn: The day broke hot.
42. to begin violently and suddenly: The storm broke.
43. (of a storm, foul weather, etc.) to cease.
44. to part the surface of water, as a jumping fish or surfacing submarine.
45. to give way or fail, as health, strength, or spirit.
46. to yield or submit to pressure, torture, etc.: to break under questioning.
47. (of the heart) to be overwhelmed with sorrow.
48. (of the voice or a musical instrument) to change harshly from one register or pitch to another.
49. (of the voice) to cease, waver, or change tone abruptly, esp. from emotional strain.
50. (of value or prices) to drop sharply and considerably.
51. to disperse or collapse by colliding with something: The waves broke on the shore.
52. (of a vowel) to undergo breaking.
53. to make the opening play in pool by striking the racked balls with the cue ball and causing them to scatter.
54. (of a pitched or bowled ball) to change direction: The ball broke over the plate.
55. to leave the starting point in a race: The horses broke from the gate.
56. (of boxers) to step back or separate from a clinch.
57. to take place; occur.
58. break away,
a. to leave or escape, esp. suddenly or hurriedly.
b. to sever connections or allegiance, as to tradition or a group.
c. to start prematurely, as a horse from the starting gate.
59. break down,
a. to cease to function.
b. to become ineffective; fail.
c. to cause to collapse or become inoperative: to break down resistance.
d. to separate into constituent parts.
e. to lose control over one's emotions, esp. to cry.
f. to have a complete physical or mental collapse.
g. (of an insulator) to fail, as when subjected to excessively high voltage, permitting a current to pass.
60. break in,
a. to enter property by force or craft.
b. to train or make accustomed to a new situation.
c. to wear or use (something new) and thereby ease stiffness, tightness, etc.
d. to interrupt.
61. break into,
a. to interrupt.
b. to begin abruptly.
c. to enter (a business or profession).
d. to enter (property) by force.
62. break off,
a. to sever by breaking.
b. to stop suddenly; discontinue: to break off relations.
63. break out,
a. to begin abruptly; arise: An epidemic broke out.
b. (of a person) to manifest a skin eruption.
c. (of certain diseases) to appear in eruptions.
d. to prepare for use: to break out the parachutes.
e. to take out for consumption: Let's break out the champagne.
f. to escape; flee.
g. to separate by or into categories.
64. break up,
a. to separate; scatter.
b. to put an end to; discontinue.
c. to divide or become divided into pieces.
d. to dissolve.
e. to disrupt; upset: breaking up the continuity.
f. (of a personal relationship) to end.
g. to end a personal relationship.
h. to be or cause to be overcome with laughter.
65. break with, to sever relations with; separate from: to break with one's family.
n. 66. an opening made by or as if by breaking; gap.
67. an act or instance of breaking; separation of parts; fracture; rupture.
68. an interruption of continuity: a break with tradition.
69. a brief rest, as from work.
70. a suspension of or sudden rupture in friendly relations.
71. an abrupt or marked change: a break in the weather.
72. an attempt to escape: a prison break.
73. a sudden dash or rush: Let's make a break for it!
74. a stroke of fortune, esp. a lucky one.
75. a chance to improve one's lot, esp. one unlooked for or undeserved.
76. the breaks, Informal. the way things happen; fate: Those are the breaks.
77. a brief, scheduled interruption of a radio or television program, as for a commercial.
78. Informal. relief from an unpleasant or ridiculous situation: Give me a break!
79. a prosodic pause or caesura.
80. a marked change in voice quality or pitch: a break in her voice.
81. a usu. short solo instrumental passage in jazz or popular music.
82. a sharp and considerable drop in prices.
83. an opening or discontinuity in an electronic circuit.
84. one or more blank lines between two printed paragraphs.
85. the place, after a letter, where a word is or may be divided at the end of a line.
86. breaks, suspension points.
87. the point at the bottom of a column where a printed story is broken off and continued on a subsequent page.
88. a collapse of health, strength, or spirit; breakdown.
89. the opening play in a game of pool, in which the cue ball is shot to scatter the balls.
90. a change in direction of a pitched or bowled ball.
91. (in harness racing) an instance of a horse's changing from a trot or pace into a gallop or other step.
92. a failure to knock down all ten pins in a single frame in bowling.
93. an act or instance of stepping back or separating from a clinch in boxing.
94. Mining. a fault or offset, as in a vein or bed of ore.
Idioms: 1. break camp, to pack up tents and equipment and resume a journey or march.
2. break cover, to emerge, esp. suddenly, from a place of concealment.
3. break even, to finish a business transaction, series of games, etc., with no loss or gain.
4. break service, (in tennis) to win a game served by one's opponent.
[before 900; Middle English breken, Old English brecan; c. Old High German brehhan, Gothic brikan, akin to Latin frangere; see fragile]
break′a•ble, adj., n.
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
Break
a large quantity; a lot or consignment; a great number; a burst of sound.Examples: break of folk, 1808; of honeysuckle, 1880; Billards. of points, 1865; of stars, 1884; of tea, 1864; of trumpets, 1750.
Dictionary of Collective Nouns and Group Terms. Copyright 2008 The Gale Group, Inc. All rights reserved.
break
– brakeThese words are both pronounced /breɪk/.
1. 'break'
If you break something or it breaks, it divides into two or more pieces, often because it has been hit or dropped.
He fell through the window, breaking the glass.
Break the bread into pieces and place on a baking tray.
The past tense of break is broke. The -ed participle is broken.
She dropped the cup, which broke into several pieces.
Someone has broken the shop window.
See broken
2. 'brake'
A brake is a device on a vehicle that makes it slow down or stop.
He took his foot off the brake.
Brake is also a verb. When a vehicle or its driver brakes, the driver makes the vehicle slow down or stop by using the brake.
The taxi braked suddenly.
Collins COBUILD English Usage © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 2004, 2011, 2012
break
Past participle: broken
Gerund: breaking
| Imperative |
|---|
| break |
| break |
Collins English Verb Tables © HarperCollins Publishers 2011
break
1. Opening shot.
2. Come out of a clinch.
3. Sequence of scoring shots.
Dictionary of Unfamiliar Words by Diagram Group Copyright © 2008 by Diagram Visual Information Limited
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Switch to new thesaurus
| Noun | 1. | break - some abrupt occurrence that interrupts an ongoing activity; "the telephone is an annoying interruption"; "there was a break in the action when a player was hurt" dislocation, disruption - an event that results in a displacement or discontinuity punctuation - something that makes repeated and regular interruptions or divisions abatement, hiatus, reprieve, respite, suspension - an interruption in the intensity or amount of something eclipse, occultation - one celestial body obscures another |
| 2. |  break - an unexpected piece of good luck; "he finally got his big break"chance event, fortuity, accident, stroke - anything that happens suddenly or by chance without an apparent cause; "winning the lottery was a happy accident"; "the pregnancy was a stroke of bad luck"; "it was due to an accident or fortuity" | |
| 3. |  break - (geology) a crack in the earth's crust resulting from the displacement of one side with respect to the other; "they built it right over a geological fault"; "he studied the faulting of the earth's crust"geology - a science that deals with the history of the earth as recorded in rocks fault line - (geology) line determined by the intersection of a geological fault and the earth's surface inclined fault - a geological fault in which one side is above the other strike-slip fault - a geological fault in which one of the adjacent surfaces appears to have moved horizontally | |
| 4. |  break - a personal or social separation (as between opposing factions); "they hoped to avoid a break in relations"schism - the formal separation of a church into two churches or the withdrawal of one group over doctrinal differences | |
| 5. |  break - a pause from doing something (as work); "we took a 10-minute break"; "he took time out to recuperate"pause - temporary inactivity spring break - a week or more of recess during the spring term at school | |
| 6. |  break - the act of breaking something; "the breakage was unavoidable"change of integrity - the act of changing the unity or wholeness of something rupture - the act of making a sudden noisy break shattering, smashing - the act of breaking something into small pieces | |
| 7. |  break - a time interval during which there is a temporary cessation of somethinginterval, time interval - a definite length of time marked off by two instants lapse - a break or intermission in the occurrence of something; "a lapse of three weeks between letters" blackout - a suspension of radio or tv broadcasting caesura - a pause or interruption (as in a conversation); "after an ominous caesura the preacher continued" dead air - an inadvertent interruption in a broadcast during which there is no sound delay, postponement, time lag, wait, hold - time during which some action is awaited; "instant replay caused too long a delay"; "he ordered a hold in the action" halftime - an intermission between the first and second half of a game rest period, rest, respite, relief - a pause for relaxation; "people actually accomplish more when they take time for short rests" time-out - a brief suspension of play; "each team has two time-outs left" | |
| 8. |  break - breaking of hard tissue such as bone; "it was a nasty fracture"; "the break seems to have been caused by a fall"harm, hurt, injury, trauma - any physical damage to the body caused by violence or accident or fracture etc. comminuted fracture - fracture in which the bone is splintered or crushed complete fracture - break involving the entire width of the bone compound fracture, open fracture - bone fracture associated with lacerated soft tissue or an open wound compression fracture - fracture in which the bone collapses (especially in short bones such as vertebrae) depressed fracture - fracture of the skull where the bone is pushed in displaced fracture - fracture in which the two ends of the broken bone are separated from one another fatigue fracture, stress fracture - fracture resulting from excessive activity rather than a specific injury capillary fracture, hairline fracture - a fracture without separation of the fragments and the line of the break being very thin incomplete fracture - fracture that does not go across the entire width of the bone impacted fracture - fracture in which one broken end is wedged into the other broken end closed fracture, simple fracture - an uncomplicated fracture in which the broken bones to not pierce the skin | |
| 9. | break - the occurrence of breaking; "the break in the dam threatened the valley" snap - a sudden breaking | |
| 10. | break - an abrupt change in the tone or register of the voice (as at puberty or due to emotion); "then there was a break in her voice" alteration, change, modification - an event that occurs when something passes from one state or phase to another; "the change was intended to increase sales"; "this storm is certainly a change for the worse"; "the neighborhood had undergone few modifications since his last visit years ago" | |
| 11. | break - the opening shot that scatters the balls in billiards or pool billiards - any of several games played on rectangular cloth-covered table (with cushioned edges) in which long tapering cue sticks are used to propel ivory (or composition) balls pocket billiards, pool - any of various games played on a pool table having 6 pockets | |
| 12. | break - (tennis) a score consisting of winning a game when your opponent was serving; "he was up two breaks in the second set" score - the act of scoring in a game or sport; "the winning score came with less than a minute left to play" lawn tennis, tennis - a game played with rackets by two or four players who hit a ball back and forth over a net that divides the court | |
| 13. | break - an act of delaying or interrupting the continuity; "it was presented without commercial breaks"; "there was a gap in his account" delay, holdup - the act of delaying; inactivity resulting in something being put off until a later time interposition, interjection, interpellation, interpolation - the action of interjecting or interposing an action or remark that interrupts abruption, breaking off - an instance of sudden interruption barracking, heckling - shouting to interrupt a speech with which you disagree | |
| 14. | break - a sudden dash; "he made a break for the open door" fast break - (basketball) a rapid dash to get a shot as soon as possible after taking possession of the ball | |
| 15. | break - any frame in which a bowler fails to make a strike or spare; "the break in the eighth frame cost him the match" score - the act of scoring in a game or sport; "the winning score came with less than a minute left to play" | |
| 16. |  break - an escape from jail; "the breakout was carefully planned" | |
| Verb | 1. | break - terminate; "She interrupted her pregnancy"; "break a lucky streak"; "break the cycle of poverty" terminate, end - bring to an end or halt; "She ended their friendship when she found out that he had once been convicted of a crime"; "The attack on Poland terminated the relatively peaceful period after WW I" hold on, stop - stop and wait, as if awaiting further instructions or developments; "Hold on a moment!" break off, break short, cut short - interrupt before its natural or planned end; "We had to cut short our vacation" |
| 2. |  break - become separated into pieces or fragments; "The figurine broke"; "The freshly baked loaf fell apart"change integrity - change in physical make-up burst, break open, split - come open suddenly and violently, as if from internal pressure; "The bubble burst" puncture - be pierced or punctured; "The tire punctured" smash - break suddenly into pieces, as from a violent blow; "The window smashed" break - destroy the integrity of; usually by force; cause to separate into pieces or fragments; "He broke the glass plate"; "She broke the match" fragment, fragmentise, fragmentize, break up - break or cause to break into pieces; "The plate fragmented" crush - become injured, broken, or distorted by pressure; "The plastic bottle crushed against the wall" | |
| 3. | break - render inoperable or ineffective; "You broke the alarm clock when you took it apart!" damage - inflict damage upon; "The snow damaged the roof"; "She damaged the car when she hit the tree" conk out, go bad, break down, die, fail, give out, give way, break, go - stop operating or functioning; "The engine finally went"; "The car died on the road"; "The bus we travelled in broke down on the way to town"; "The coffee maker broke"; "The engine failed on the way to town"; "her eyesight went after the accident" | |
| 4. | break - ruin completely; "He busted my radio!" fall apart, wear out, bust, wear, break - go to pieces; "The lawn mower finally broke"; "The gears wore out"; "The old chair finally fell apart completely" break down - cause to fall or collapse ruin, destroy - destroy completely; damage irreparably; "You have ruined my car by pouring sugar in the tank!"; "The tears ruined her make-up" analyze, break down, dissect, take apart, analyse - make a mathematical, chemical, or grammatical analysis of; break down into components or essential features; "analyze a specimen"; "analyze a sentence"; "analyze a chemical compound" | |
| 5. | break - destroy the integrity of; usually by force; cause to separate into pieces or fragments; "He broke the glass plate"; "She broke the match" shatter - cause to break into many pieces; "shatter the plate" come apart, break, split up, fall apart, separate - become separated into pieces or fragments; "The figurine broke"; "The freshly baked loaf fell apart" fracture - break into pieces; "The pothole fractured a bolt on the axle" break in - break so as to fall inward; "He broke in the door" | |
| 6. |  break - act in disregard of laws, rules, contracts, or promises; "offend all laws of humanity"; "violate the basic laws or human civilization"; "break a law"; "break a promise"disrespect - show a lack of respect for blunder, drop the ball, goof, sin - commit a faux pas or a fault or make a serious mistake; "I blundered during the job interview" contravene, infringe, run afoul, conflict - go against, as of rules and laws; "He ran afoul of the law"; "This behavior conflicts with our rules" trespass - break the law | |
| 7. | break - move away or escape suddenly; "The horses broke from the stable"; "Three inmates broke jail"; "Nobody can break out--this prison is high security" break - make a rupture in the ranks of the enemy or one's own by quitting or fleeing; "The ranks broke" escape, get away, break loose - run away from confinement; "The convicted murderer escaped from a high security prison" | |
| 8. | break - scatter or part; "The clouds broke after the heavy downpour" dissipate, scatter, disperse, spread out - move away from each other; "The crowds dispersed"; "The children scattered in all directions when the teacher approached"; | |
| 9. | break - force out or release suddenly and often violently something pent up; "break into tears"; "erupt in anger" express emotion, express feelings - give verbal or other expression to one's feelings | |
| 10. | break - prevent completion; "stop the project"; "break off the negotiations" fracture - become fractured; "The tibia fractured from the blow of the iron pipe" terminate, end - bring to an end or halt; "She ended their friendship when she found out that he had once been convicted of a crime"; "The attack on Poland terminated the relatively peaceful period after WW I" | |
| 11. | break - enter someone's (virtual or real) property in an unauthorized manner, usually with the intent to steal or commit a violent act; "Someone broke in while I was on vacation"; "They broke into my car and stole my radio!"; "who broke into my account last night?" crack - gain unauthorized access computers with malicious intentions; "she cracked my password"; "crack a safe" | |
| 12. | break - make submissive, obedient, or useful; "The horse was tough to break"; "I broke in the new intern" break - be broken in; "If the new teacher won't break, we'll add some stress" domesticise, domesticize, domesticate, tame, reclaim - overcome the wildness of; make docile and tractable; "He tames lions for the circus"; "reclaim falcons" | |
| 13. | break - fail to agree with; be in violation of; as of rules or patterns; "This sentence violates the rules of syntax" fly in the face of, fly in the teeth of - go against; "This action flies in the face of the agreement" | |
| 14. | break - surpass in excellence; "She bettered her own record"; "break a record" | |
| 15. |  break - make known to the public information that was previously known only to a few people or that was meant to be kept a secret; "The auction house would not disclose the price at which the van Gogh had sold"; "The actress won't reveal how old she is"; "bring out the truth"; "he broke the news to her"; "unwrap the evidence in the murder case"blackwash - bring (information) out of concealment muckrake - explore and expose misconduct and scandals concerning public figures; "This reporter was well-known for his muckraking" blow - cause to be revealed and jeopardized; "The story blew their cover"; "The double agent was blown by the other side" out - reveal (something) about somebody's identity or lifestyle; "The gay actor was outed last week"; "Someone outed a CIA agent" come out of the closet, out, come out - to state openly and publicly one's homosexuality; "This actor outed last year" spring - produce or disclose suddenly or unexpectedly; "He sprang these news on me just as I was leaving" get around, get out, break - be released or become known; of news; "News of her death broke in the morning" confide - reveal in private; tell confidentially leak - tell anonymously; "The news were leaked to the paper" babble out, blab, blab out, let the cat out of the bag, peach, spill the beans, tattle, babble, talk, sing - divulge confidential information or secrets; "Be careful--his secretary talks" tell - let something be known; "Tell them that you will be late" reveal - disclose directly or through prophets; "God rarely reveal his plans for Mankind" | |
| 16. | break - come into being; "light broke over the horizon"; "Voices broke in the air" | |
| 17. | break - stop operating or functioning; "The engine finally went"; "The car died on the road"; "The bus we travelled in broke down on the way to town"; "The coffee maker broke"; "The engine failed on the way to town"; "her eyesight went after the accident" change - undergo a change; become different in essence; losing one's or its original nature; "She changed completely as she grew older"; "The weather changed last night" break - render inoperable or ineffective; "You broke the alarm clock when you took it apart!" croak, decease, die, drop dead, buy the farm, cash in one's chips, give-up the ghost, kick the bucket, pass away, perish, snuff it, pop off, expire, conk, exit, choke, go, pass - pass from physical life and lose all bodily attributes and functions necessary to sustain life; "She died from cancer"; "The children perished in the fire"; "The patient went peacefully"; "The old guy kicked the bucket at the age of 102" go down, crash - stop operating; "My computer crashed last night"; "The system goes down at least once a week" blow out, burn out, blow - melt, break, or become otherwise unusable; "The lightbulbs blew out"; "The fuse blew" misfire - fail to fire or detonate; "The guns misfired" malfunction, misfunction - fail to function or function improperly; "the coffee maker malfunctioned" | |
| 18. | break - interrupt a continued activity; "She had broken with the traditional patterns" | |
| 19. | break - make a rupture in the ranks of the enemy or one's own by quitting or fleeing; "The ranks broke" armed forces, armed services, military, military machine, war machine - the military forces of a nation; "their military is the largest in the region"; "the military machine is the same one we faced in 1991 but now it is weaker" break away, break out, break - move away or escape suddenly; "The horses broke from the stable"; "Three inmates broke jail"; "Nobody can break out--this prison is high security" | |
| 20. | break - curl over and fall apart in surf or foam, of waves; "The surf broke" | |
| 21. | break - lessen in force or effect; "soften a shock"; "break a fall" blunt, deaden - make less lively, intense, or vigorous; impair in vigor, force, activity, or sensation; "Terror blunted her feelings"; "deaden a sound" deafen - make soundproof; "deafen a room" | |
| 22. | break - be broken in; "If the new teacher won't break, we'll add some stress" change - undergo a change; become different in essence; losing one's or its original nature; "She changed completely as she grew older"; "The weather changed last night" | |
| 23. | break - come to an end; "The heat wave finally broke yesterday" end, cease, terminate, finish, stop - have an end, in a temporal, spatial, or quantitative sense; either spatial or metaphorical; "the bronchioles terminate in a capillary bed"; "Your rights stop where you infringe upon the rights of other"; "My property ends by the bushes"; "The symphony ends in a pianissimo" | |
| 24. | break - vary or interrupt a uniformity or continuity; "The flat plain was broken by tall mesas" | |
| 25. | break - cause to give up a habit; "She finally broke herself of smoking cigarettes" break - give up; "break cigarette smoking" | |
| 26. | break - give up; "break cigarette smoking" cease, discontinue, lay off, quit, stop, give up - put an end to a state or an activity; "Quit teasing your little brother" break - cause to give up a habit; "She finally broke herself of smoking cigarettes" | |
| 27. | break - come forth or begin from a state of latency; "The first winter storm broke over New York" come forth, emerge - happen or occur as a result of something | |
| 28. | break - happen or take place; "Things have been breaking pretty well for us in the past few months" colloquialism - a colloquial expression; characteristic of spoken or written communication that seeks to imitate informal speech hap, happen, occur, come about, take place, go on, pass off, fall out, pass - come to pass; "What is happening?"; "The meeting took place off without an incidence"; "Nothing occurred that seemed important" | |
| 29. | break - cause the failure or ruin of; "His peccadilloes finally broke his marriage"; "This play will either make or break the playwright" ruin - destroy or cause to fail; "This behavior will ruin your chances of winning the election" make - assure the success of; "A good review by this critic will make your play!" | |
| 30. | break - invalidate by judicial action; "The will was broken" | |
| 31. | break - discontinue an association or relation; go different ways; "The business partners broke over a tax question"; "The couple separated after 25 years of marriage"; "My friend and I split up" give the bounce, give the gate, give the axe - terminate a relationship abruptly; "Mary gave John the axe after she saw him with another woman" disunify, break apart - break up or separate; "The country is disunifying"; "Yugoslavia broke apart after 1989" disassociate, disjoint, dissociate, disunite, divorce - part; cease or break association with; "She disassociated herself from the organization when she found out the identity of the president" break with - end a relationship; "China broke with Russia" split up, divorce - get a divorce; formally terminate a marriage; "The couple divorced after only 6 months" secede, splinter, break away - withdraw from an organization or communion; "After the break up of the Soviet Union, many republics broke away" break away, break - interrupt a continued activity; "She had broken with the traditional patterns" | |
| 32. | break - assign to a lower position; reduce in rank; "She was demoted because she always speaks up"; "He was broken down to Sergeant" assign, delegate, designate, depute - give an assignment to (a person) to a post, or assign a task to (a person) sideline - remove from the center of activity or attention; place into an inferior position; "The outspoken cabinet member was sidelined by the President" reduce - bring to humbler or weaker state or condition; "He reduced the population to slavery" | |
| 33. |  break - reduce to bankruptcy; "My daughter's fancy wedding is going to break me!"; "The slump in the financial markets smashed him"impoverish - make poor | |
| 34. | break - change directions suddenly | |
| 35. | break - emerge from the surface of a body of water; "The whales broke" appear - come into sight or view; "He suddenly appeared at the wedding"; "A new star appeared on the horizon" | |
| 36. |  break - break down, literally or metaphorically; "The wall collapsed"; "The business collapsed"; "The dam broke"; "The roof collapsed"; "The wall gave in"; "The roof finally gave under the weight of the ice"change - undergo a change; become different in essence; losing one's or its original nature; "She changed completely as she grew older"; "The weather changed last night" abandon, give up - stop maintaining or insisting on; of ideas or claims; "He abandoned the thought of asking for her hand in marriage"; "Both sides have to give up some claims in these negotiations" flop - fall loosely; "He flopped into a chair" break - curl over and fall apart in surf or foam, of waves; "The surf broke" | |
| 37. | break - do a break dance; "Kids were break-dancing at the street corner" trip the light fantastic, trip the light fantastic toe, dance - move in a pattern; usually to musical accompaniment; do or perform a dance; "My husband and I like to dance at home to the radio" | |
| 38. | break - exchange for smaller units of money; "I had to break a $100 bill just to buy the candy" | |
| 39. | break - destroy the completeness of a set of related items; "The book dealer would not break the set" alter, change, modify - cause to change; make different; cause a transformation; "The advent of the automobile may have altered the growth pattern of the city"; "The discussion has changed my thinking about the issue" break - exchange for smaller units of money; "I had to break a $100 bill just to buy the candy" | |
| 40. | break - make the opening shot that scatters the balls billiards - any of several games played on rectangular cloth-covered table (with cushioned edges) in which long tapering cue sticks are used to propel ivory (or composition) balls shoot - throw or propel in a specific direction or towards a specific objective; "shoot craps"; "shoot a golf ball" | |
| 41. | break - separate from a clinch, in boxing; "The referee broke the boxers" | |
| 42. | break - go to pieces; "The lawn mower finally broke"; "The gears wore out"; "The old chair finally fell apart completely" chip, chip off, break away, break off, come off - break off (a piece from a whole); "Her tooth chipped" | |
| 43. | break - break a piece from a whole; "break a branch from a tree" detach - cause to become detached or separated; take off; "detach the skin from the chicken before you eat it" | |
| 44. | break - become punctured or penetrated; "The skin broke" break - pierce or penetrate; "The blade broke her skin" | |
| 45. | break - pierce or penetrate; "The blade broke her skin" penetrate, perforate - pass into or through, often by overcoming resistance; "The bullet penetrated her chest" break - become punctured or penetrated; "The skin broke" | |
| 46. | break - be released or become known; of news; "News of her death broke in the morning" disclose, let on, divulge, expose, give away, let out, reveal, unwrap, discover, bring out, break - make known to the public information that was previously known only to a few people or that was meant to be kept a secret; "The auction house would not disclose the price at which the van Gogh had sold"; "The actress won't reveal how old she is"; "bring out the truth"; "he broke the news to her"; "unwrap the evidence in the murder case" | |
| 47. | break - cease an action temporarily; "We pause for station identification"; "let's break for lunch" cut off, disrupt, interrupt, break up - make a break in; "We interrupt the program for the following messages" catch one's breath, take a breather, rest, breathe - take a short break from one's activities in order to relax take five - take a break for five minutes; "The musicians took five during the rehearsal" take ten - take a ten minute break; "The players took ten during the long rehearsal" | |
| 48. | break - interrupt the flow of current in; "break a circuit" | |
| 49. | break - undergo breaking; "The simple vowels broke in many Germanic languages" diphthongise, diphthongize - change from a simple vowel to a diphthong; "This vowel diphthongized in Germanic" | |
| 50. | break - find a flaw in; "break an alibi"; "break down a proof" break - find the solution or key to; "break the code" | |
| 51. | break - find the solution or key to; "break the code" figure out, puzzle out, solve, lick, work out, work - find the solution to (a problem or question) or understand the meaning of; "did you solve the problem?"; "Work out your problems with the boss"; "this unpleasant situation isn't going to work itself out"; "did you get it?"; "Did you get my meaning?"; "He could not work the math problem" break - find a flaw in; "break an alibi"; "break down a proof" | |
| 52. | break - change suddenly from one tone quality or register to another; "Her voice broke to a whisper when she started to talk about her children" | |
| 53. | break - happen; "Report the news as it develops"; "These political movements recrudesce from time to time" hap, happen, occur, come about, take place, go on, pass off, fall out, pass - come to pass; "What is happening?"; "The meeting took place off without an incidence"; "Nothing occurred that seemed important" develop - be gradually disclosed or unfolded; become manifest; "The plot developed slowly"; come through, break through - penetrate; "The sun broke through the clouds"; "The rescue team broke through the wall in the mine shaft" | |
| 54. | break - become fractured; break or crack on the surface only; "The glass cracked when it was heated" change - undergo a change; become different in essence; losing one's or its original nature; "She changed completely as she grew older"; "The weather changed last night" check - make cracks or chinks in; "The heat checked the paint" crack - cause to become cracked; "heat and light cracked the back of the leather chair" crack - break partially but keep its integrity; "The glass cracked" | |
| 55. | break - crack; of the male voice in puberty; "his voice is breaking--he should no longer sing in the choir" change state, turn - undergo a transformation or a change of position or action; "We turned from Socialism to Capitalism"; "The people turned against the President when he stole the election" | |
| 56. | break - fall sharply; "stock prices broke" | |
| 57. | break - fracture a bone of; "I broke my foot while playing hockey" injure - cause injuries or bodily harm to fracture - break (a bone); "She broke her clavicle" | |
| 58. | break - diminish or discontinue abruptly; "The patient's fever broke last night" | |
| 59. | break - weaken or destroy in spirit or body; "His resistance was broken"; "a man broken by the terrible experience of near-death" weaken - lessen the strength of; "The fever weakened his body" |
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
break
verb
1. shatter, separate, destroy, split, divide, crack, snap, smash, crush, fragment, demolish, sever, trash (slang), disintegrate, splinter, smash to smithereens, shiver He fell through the window, breaking the glass.
shatter unite, join, connect, repair, attach, fasten
shatter unite, join, connect, repair, attach, fasten
4. stop working, break down, go wrong, give out, pack up (Brit. informal), have had it, seize up, cease to function, conk out (informal), die, go on the blink, go kaput, go phut When the clutch broke, the car was locked into second gear.
5. disobey, breach, defy, violate, disregard, flout, infringe, contravene, transgress, go counter to, infract (Law) We didn't know we were breaking the law.
disobey follow, observe, discharge, obey, conform, adhere to, abide by
disobey follow, observe, discharge, obey, conform, adhere to, abide by
7. disturb, cut, interrupt, interfere with The noise broke my concentration.
8. stop, end, cut, drop, give up, abandon, suspend, interrupt, terminate, put an end to, discontinue, bring to an end, pull the plug on, call a halt to They have yet to break the link with the trade unions.
9. give up, stop, kick, abandon, quit, cut out, pack in, leave off, say goodbye to If you continue to smoke, keep trying to break the habit.
11. ruin, destroy, crush, humiliate, bring down, bankrupt, degrade, impoverish, demote, make bankrupt, bring to ruin The newspapers can make or break you.
12. stop briefly, stop, rest, halt, pause, cease, take a break, have a breather (informal) They broke for lunch.
14. cushion, reduce, ease, moderate, diminish, temper, soften, lessen, alleviate, lighten She was saved by bushes which broke her fall.
15. be revealed, come out, be reported, be published, be announced, be made public, be proclaimed, be let out, be imparted, be divulged, come out in the wash He resigned his post as Bishop when the scandal broke.
16. reveal, tell, announce, declare, disclose, proclaim, divulge, make known I worried for ages and decided I had better break the news.
17. beat, top, better, exceed, go beyond, excel, surpass, outstrip, outdo, cap (informal) The film has broken all box office records.
18. (always used of dawn) happen, appear, emerge, occur, erupt, burst out, come into being, come forth suddenly They continued their search as dawn broke.
20. decode, crack, work out, solve, interpret, decipher, unscramble, decrypt, descramble It was feared they could break the allies' code.
noun
1. fracture, opening, tear, hole, split, crack, gap, rent, breach, rift, rupture, gash, cleft, fissure a break in the earth's surface
2. let-up, halt, pause, suspension, lessening, recess, interruption, respite, lull, cessation, remission, breathing space, slackening, hiatus Nothing has been discussed that might lead to a break in the deadlock.
3. gap, opening, space, hole, divide, crack, breach, rift, cleft, chink, crevice, cranny, discontinuity, interstice a sudden break in the clouds
4. interval, pause, recess, interlude, intermission, entr'acte They always play that music during the break.
5. holiday, leave, vacation, time off, recess, awayday They are currently taking a short break in Spain.
6. (Informal) stroke of luck, chance, opportunity, advantage, fortune, opening The rain was a lucky break for the American.
7. breach, split, dispute, separation, rift, rupture, alienation, severance, disaffection, schism, estrangement, disunion There is some threat of a break in relations between them.
break away get away, escape, flee, run away, break free, break loose, make your escape I broke away from him and rushed out into the hall.
break down
1. stop working, stop, give out, pack up (Brit. informal), have had it, seize up, cease to function, conk out (informal), go on the blink, go kaput (informal), go phut, die, cark it (Austral. & N.Z. slang) Their car broke down.
2. fail, collapse, fall through, be unsuccessful, come unstuck, run aground, come to grief, come a cropper (informal), turn out badly Paola's marriage broke down.
3. be overcome, lose control, crack up (informal), lose it (informal), go to pieces The young woman broke down and cried.
break free of something or someone escape (from), leave, withdraw from, extricate yourself from, free yourself of, disentangle yourself from his inability to break free of his marriage
break in
1. break and enter, burst in, enter, gain access The thief had broken in through a first-floor window.
2. interrupt, intervene, interfere, intrude, burst in, interject, butt in, barge in, interpose, put your oar in, put your two cents in (U.S. slang) Suddenly, O'Leary broke in with a suggestion.
break into something
1. burgle In this country a house is broken into every 24 seconds.
2. begin, start, burst into, give way to, commence, launch into, embark upon The moment she was out of sight she broke into a run.
break off stop talking, pause, stumble, falter, fumble, hem and haw or hum and haw He broke off in mid-sentence.
break out
2. escape, flee, bolt, burst out, break free, get free, break loose, abscond, do a bunk (Brit. slang) The two men broke out and cut through a perimeter fence.
3. erupt, gush, flare up, burst out, burst forth, pour forth A line of sweat broke out on her forehead.
break someone in initiate, train, accustom, habituate, show someone the ropes The band are breaking in a new backing vocalist.
break something down
1. divide up, split, cut up, subdivide, separate out These rules tell us how a sentence is broken down into phrases.
2. demolish, knock down, destroy, pull down, tear down, smash in, kick down, smash down His father failed to break the door down.
3. remove, destroy, get rid of, knock down, eradicate, do away with, obliterate, put paid to He was able to break down barriers between the two groups.
break something off
1. detach, separate, divide, cut off, pull off, sever, part, remove, splinter, tear off, snap off He broke off a large piece of the clay.
2. bring to an end, end, terminate, put an end to, discontinue, pull the plug on, call a halt to He doesn't seem to have the courage to break his engagement off.
3. stop, finish, suspend, halt, pause, cease, terminate, discontinue, pull the plug on, desist, belay (Nautical) They have broken off negotiations.
break something up stop, end, suspend, disrupt, dismantle, disperse, terminate, disband, diffuse Police used tear gas to break up a demonstration.
break through succeed, make it (informal), achieve, do well, flourish, cut it (informal), get to the top, crack it (informal), make your mark (informal), shine forth There is still scope for new writers to break through.
break through something
1. penetrate, go through, get past, burst through Protesters tried to break through a police cordon.
2. pierce, penetrate, burst through, emerge from behind Sunlight had broken through the clouds.
break up
1. finish, stop, be suspended, terminate, come to an end, adjourn, recess The meeting broke up half an hour later.
2. split up, separate, part, divorce, part company, get divorced, end a relationship My girlfriend and I have broken up.
break with something or someone separate from, drop (informal), reject, ditch (slang), renounce, depart from, break away from, part company with, repudiate, jilt It was a tough decision for him to break with Leeds.
Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002
break
verb1. To crack or split into two or more fragments by means of or as a result of force, a blow, or strain:
2. To become or cause to become apart one from another:
Idioms: part company, set at odds.
3. To make a hole or other opening in.Also used with through:
4. To pass into or through by overcoming resistance.Also used with through:
5. To find the key to (a code, for example):
6. To make known:
9. To impair severely something such as the spirit, health, or effectiveness of:
10. To give way mentally and emotionally.Also used with down:
11. To suddenly lose all health or strength.Also used with down:
Informal: crack up.
Slang: conk out.
Idiom: give way.
13. To undergo sudden financial failure:
Informal: fold.
15. To fail to fulfill (a promise) or conform to (a regulation):
16. To refuse or fail to obey:
Idiom: pay no attention to.
17. To desist from, cease, or discontinue (a habit, for example):
Slang: kick.
18. To interrupt regular activity for a short period:
Idioms: take a break, take a breather, take five.
break down
1. To cause the complete ruin or wreckage of:
bankrupt, cross up, demolish, destroy, finish, ruin, shatter, sink, smash, spoil, torpedo, undo, wash up, wrack, wreck.
Slang: total.
Idiom: put the kibosh on.
4. To take (something) apart:
5. To reduce or become reduced to pieces or components:
6. To become or cause to become rotten or unsound:
break in
1. To enter forcibly or illegally:
Law: trespass.
break off
1. To stop suddenly, as a conversation, activity, or relationship:
3. To terminate a relationship or an association by or as if by leaving one another:
Informal: split (up).
Idioms: call it quits, come to a parting of the ways, part company.
break out
2. To break loose and leave suddenly, as from confinement or from a difficult or threatening situation:
Informal: skip (out).
Slang: lam.
Regional: absquatulate.
Idioms: blow the coop, cut and run, give someone the slip, make a getaway, take flight, take it on the lam.
break up
1. To make a division into parts, sections, or branches:
2. To reduce or become reduced to pieces or components:
3. To terminate a relationship or an association by or as if by leaving one another:
Informal: split (up).
Idioms: call it quits, come to a parting of the ways, part company.
1. An opening, especially in a solid structure:
2. A usually narrow partial opening caused by splitting and rupture:
3. The act or an instance of escaping, as from confinement or difficulty:
Slang: lam.
4. A cessation of continuity or regularity:
6. A pause or interval, as from work or duty:
Informal: breather.
7. A favorable or advantageous combination of circumstances:
Informal: shot.
8. An interruption in friendly relations:
The American Heritage® Roget's Thesaurus. Copyright © 2013, 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Translations
تغيُّـر في الطقستهبتوقُّف قصيرفتحه، ثغرةفرصة
rozbítpauzapokazitpřestávkapropuknout
brækkebrudbrydebryde løschance
paŭzirompi
rikkoasärkeäsärkyätahtotaittaa
לשבור
lomitiprijelomrazvitislomiti
eltörtörtörikmegszegmegtör
brestabreyting; slotibrjótabrjóta afbrjóta gegn; svíkjast um
割る壊れる/壊す破壊
...을 깨다골절중단하다
baigtisbangolaužisdaužymasdaužytiduženos
lauztsalauztpārkāptpārtraukumspavēstīt
mutovať
zlomitizlomiti seizbruhnitikršitiodmor
gå sönderrastsprängaha sönderpaus
เสีย ชำรุดการแตกหักฝ่าฝืน ขัดขืน
hỏng hóclàm vỡsự vỡ
break
[breɪk] (broke (vb: pt) (broken (pp)))A. N
1. (= fracture) → rotura f; (in bone) → fractura f (fig) (in relationship) → ruptura f
to make a break with → romper con
to make a break with → romper con
2. (= gap) (in wall etc) → abertura f, brecha f; (= crack) → grieta f (Typ) (on paper etc) → espacio m, blanco m (Elec) (in circuit) → corte m
a break in the clouds → un claro entre las nubes
a break in the clouds → un claro entre las nubes
3. (= pause) (in conversation) → interrupción f, pausa f; (in journey) → descanso m, pausa f; (= stop) → parada f; (= holiday) → vacaciones fpl; (= rest) → descanso m; (= tea break) → descanso m para tomar el té, once(s) f(pl) (LAm) (Brit) (Scol) → recreo m
a break in continuity → una solución de continuidad
give me a break! → ¡dame un respiro!; (impatient) → ¡déjame, anda!
to have or take a break → descansar, tomarse un descanso
to take a weekend break → hacer una escapada de fin de semana
with a break in her voice → con la voz entrecortada
a break in the weather → un cambio del tiempo
without a break → sin descanso or descansar
a break in continuity → una solución de continuidad
give me a break! → ¡dame un respiro!; (impatient) → ¡déjame, anda!
to have or take a break → descansar, tomarse un descanso
to take a weekend break → hacer una escapada de fin de semana
with a break in her voice → con la voz entrecortada
a break in the weather → un cambio del tiempo
without a break → sin descanso or descansar
4. (= chance) → oportunidad f
to give sb a break → dar una oportunidad a algn
lucky break → golpe m de suerte, racha f de buena suerte
to give sb a break → dar una oportunidad a algn
lucky break → golpe m de suerte, racha f de buena suerte
6.
at break of day (liter) → al amanecer
at break of day (liter) → al amanecer
B. VT
1. (= smash) [+ glass etc] → romper; [+ branch, stick] → romper, quebrar (LAm); [+ ground] → roturar; [+ code] → descifrar; [+ conspiracy] → deshacer; [+ drugs ring] → desarticular
to break one's back → romperse la columna
I'm not going to break my back to finish it today → no me voy a matar para terminarlo hoy
to break sb's heart → romper or partir el corazón a algn
to break one's leg → romperse la pierna
break a leg! (Theat) → ¡buena suerte!
to break surface [submarine, diver] → emerger, salir a la superficie
to break the ice → romper el hielo
see also spirit A3
to break one's back → romperse la columna
I'm not going to break my back to finish it today → no me voy a matar para terminarlo hoy
to break sb's heart → romper or partir el corazón a algn
to break one's leg → romperse la pierna
break a leg! (Theat) → ¡buena suerte!
to break surface [submarine, diver] → emerger, salir a la superficie
to break the ice → romper el hielo
see also spirit A3
3. (= fail to observe) [+ law, rule] → violar, quebrantar; [+ appointment] → no acudir a
he broke his word/promise → faltó a su palabra/promesa
to break a date → faltar a una cita
he broke his word/promise → faltó a su palabra/promesa
to break a date → faltar a una cita
4. (= weaken, destroy) [+ resistance, spirits] → quebrantar, quebrar (LAm); [+ health] → quebrantar; [+ strike] → romper, quebrar (LAm); [+ habit] → perder; [+ horse] → domar, amansar; [+ bank] (in gambling) → quebrar, hacer quebrar; [+ person] (financially) → arruinar; (morally) → abatir, vencer
to break sb of a habit → quitar una costumbre a algn
to break sb of a habit → quitar una costumbre a algn
5. (= interrupt) [+ silence, spell] → romper; [+ journey] → interrumpir; [+ electrical circuit] → cortar, interrumpir
6. (= soften) [+ force] → mitigar, contener; [+ impact, fall] → amortiguar
7. (= disclose) [+ news] → comunicar (to a)
8. (= leave)
to break camp → levantar el campamento
to break cover → salir al descubierto
to break ranks → romper filas
to break camp → levantar el campamento
to break cover → salir al descubierto
to break ranks → romper filas
9.
to break sb's serve or service (Tennis) → romper el servicio de algn
to break sb's serve or service (Tennis) → romper el servicio de algn
10. (Naut) [+ flag] → desplegar
C. VI
2. (= be fractured) [chair] → romperse, partirse; [branch, twig] → romperse, quebrarse (LAm); [limb] → fracturarse; [boil] → reventar (fig) [heart] → romperse, partirse
3. (= cease to function) [machine] → estropearse
4. (= arrive) [dawn, day] → apuntar, rayar; [news] → darse a conocer; [story] → revelarse; [storm] → estallar; [wave] → romper
5. (= give way) [health, spirits] → quebrantarse; [weather] → cambiar; [heat wave] → terminar; [boy's voice] → mudarse; [singing voice] → cascarse; [bank] → quebrar
7.
to break free (from chains, ropes etc) → soltarse (fig) → liberarse
to break loose → desatarse, escaparse (fig) → desencadenarse
to break free (from chains, ropes etc) → soltarse (fig) → liberarse
to break loose → desatarse, escaparse (fig) → desencadenarse
9. (Boxing) → separarse
D. CPD break dancer N → bailarín/ina m/f de break
break dancing N → break m
break point N (Tennis) → punto m de break, punto m de ruptura (Comput) → punto m de interrupción
break dancing N → break m
break point N (Tennis) → punto m de break, punto m de ruptura (Comput) → punto m de interrupción
break away VI + ADV
1. [piece] → desprenderse, separarse
2. (Ftbl etc) → escapar, despegarse
3. to break away from [+ guard] → evadirse de; [+ group] (= leave) → separarse de; (from disagreement) → romper con
break down
A. VT + ADV
1. (= destroy) [+ door etc] → echar abajo, derribar; [+ resistance] → vencer, acabar con; [+ suspicion] → disipar
2. (= analyse) [+ figures] → analizar, desglosar; [+ substance] → descomponer
B. VI + ADV [machine] → estropearse, malograrse (Peru), descomponerse (LAm) (Aut) → averiarse, descomponerse (LAm); [person] (under pressure) → derrumbarse; (from emotion) → romper or echarse a llorar; [health] → quebrantarse; [talks etc] → fracasar; [chemicals, waste] → descomponerse .
break forth VI + ADV [light, water] → surgir; [storm] → estallar
to break forth into song → ponerse a cantar
to break forth into song → ponerse a cantar
break in
A. VT + ADV
3. [+ shoes] → domar, acostumbrarse a
B. VI + ADV
1. [burglar] → forzar la entrada
2. (= interrupt) (on conversation) → interrumpir
break into VI + PREP
2. (Comm etc) to break into a new market → introducirse en un mercado nuevo
to break into films → introducirse en el mundo cinematográfico
to break into films → introducirse en el mundo cinematográfico
3. (= begin suddenly) → echar a, romper a
to break into a run → echar or empezar a correr
to break into song → ponerse a cantar
to break into a run → echar or empezar a correr
to break into song → ponerse a cantar
break off
A. VT + ADV
1. [+ piece etc] → partir
B. VI + ADV
1. [piece of rock, ice, handle] → desprenderse; [twig, segment of orange] → desgajarse
2. (= stop) → interrumpirse, pararse
break out
A. VI + ADV
2. (= begin) [fire, war, epidemic] → estallar; [discussion, fighting, argument] → producirse
B. VT + ADV [+ champagne etc] → descorchar
break through
A. VI + ADV [sun] → salir; [water etc] → abrirse paso, abrirse (un) camino
to break through to [+ new seam] [miners] → llegar a, abrir un camino hasta
to break through to [+ new seam] [miners] → llegar a, abrir un camino hasta
B. VI + PREP [+ defences, barrier] → atravesar; [+ crowd] → abrirse paso entre
break up
A. VT + ADV
1. [+ rocks etc] → hacer pedazos, deshacer; [+ ship] → desguazar
2. (fig) [+ crowd] → dispersar, disolver; [+ meeting, organization] → disolver; [+ gang] → desarticular; [+ marriage] → deshacer; [+ estate] → parcelar; [+ industry] → desconcentrar; [+ fight] → intervenir en
break it up! → ¡basta ya!
break it up! → ¡basta ya!
3. (US) (= cause to laugh) → hacer reír a carcajadas
B. VI + ADV
1. [ship] → hacerse pedazos; [ice] → deshacerse
2. (fig) [partnership] → deshacerse, disolverse; [marriage] → deshacerse; [federation] → desmembrarse; [group] → disgregarse; [weather] → cambiar; [crowd, clouds] → dispersarse
they broke up after ten years of marriage → se separaron después de diez años de matrimonio
they broke up after ten years of marriage → se separaron después de diez años de matrimonio
3. (= divide) → dividirse, desglosarse (into en)
4. (Brit) [pupils] → empezar las vacaciones; [session] → levantarse, terminar
the school breaks up tomorrow → las clases terminan mañana
the school breaks up tomorrow → las clases terminan mañana
5. (US) (= laugh) → reír a carcajadas
break with VI + PREP to break with sth/sb → romper con algo/algn
Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005
break
[ˈbreɪk] vb [broke] [ˈbrəʊk] (pt) [broken] [ˈbrəʊkən] (pp)
vt
[+ glass, plate, toy, machine] → casser
Careful, you'll break something! → Attention, tu vas casser quelque chose!
to break the deadlock → sortir de l'impasse
to break a habit → se défaire d'une habitude
Careful, you'll break something! → Attention, tu vas casser quelque chose!
to break the deadlock → sortir de l'impasse
to break a habit → se défaire d'une habitude
[+ part of body] → casser
I broke my leg → Je me suis cassé la jambe.
He broke his arm → Il s'est cassé le bras.
I broke my leg → Je me suis cassé la jambe.
He broke his arm → Il s'est cassé le bras.
(= demoralize) [+ person] → briser
[+ promise] → rompre
[+ law] → enfreindre, violer
[+ record] → battre
[+ code] → déchiffrer
to break sth open [+ door, safe] → forcer qch, fracturer qch
vi [object] → se casser, se briser
Careful, it'll break! → Attention, ça va se casser!
to break into pieces → se casser en morceaux
The plane broke into three pieces
BUT L'avion s'est cassé en trois.
to break in half → se casser en deux
Careful, it'll break! → Attention, ça va se casser!
to break into pieces → se casser en morceaux
The plane broke into three pieces
BUT L'avion s'est cassé en trois.
to break in half → se casser en deux
[storm] → éclater
(= become public) [news] → être annoncé; [scandal] → éclater
[dawn] → poindre
[waves] → se briser
[voice] → muer
to break even (financially) → rentrer dans ses frais
to break with sb (= have rupture) → rompre avec qn
to break with sth (= go against) → rompre avec qch
to break with sth (= go against) → rompre avec qch
(= pause) to break for sth → faire une pause pour qch
to break free [person, animal] → s'échapper
to break free of sth → se libérer de qch
to break loose [person, animal] → s'échapper
to break free of sth → se libérer de qch
to break loose [person, animal] → s'échapper
n
(= gap) → brèche f
(= fracture) → fracture f
(= holiday) → vacances fpl
the Christmas break → les vacances de Noël
to take a break (= holiday) → prendre des vacances
the Christmas break → les vacances de Noël
to take a break (= holiday) → prendre des vacances
(= short rest) → pause f
to have a break, to take a break (few minutes) → faire une pause
give me a break! (= for heaven's sake) → lâche-moi un peu!
to have a break, to take a break (few minutes) → faire une pause
give me a break! (= for heaven's sake) → lâche-moi un peu!
(= escape) to make a break, to make a break for it → prendre la fuite
(literary) the break of day, the break of dawn → le lever du jour, l'aube
break away
vi (from other people) → se détacher
(= liberate o.s.) to break away from sth [+ idea, tradition] → rompre avec qch
to break away from sb → se dégager de l'étreinte de qn
to break away from sb → se dégager de l'étreinte de qn
break down
vt
(= smash) [+ door] → enfoncer
[+ resistance] → venir à bout de
[+ barriers] → faire tomber
[+ figures, results] → décomposer, analyser
The data is broken down into manageable units
BUT Les données sont divisées en segments facilement utilisables.
The data is broken down into manageable units
BUT Les données sont divisées en segments facilement utilisables.
[+ substance, organic material] → décomposer
vi
(= collapse) [talks] → échouer
[person] → s'effondrer
He broke down and cried → Il s'effondra et se mit à pleurer.
to break down in tears → fondre en larmes
He broke down and cried → Il s'effondra et se mit à pleurer.
to break down in tears → fondre en larmes
(= rot) [substance, organic material] → se décomposer
to break down into its constituent parts → se décomposer en éléments
to break down into its constituent parts → se décomposer en éléments
break in
vi
[burglar] → entrer par effraction
[+ house] → s'introduire par effraction dans, pénétrer par effraction dans
[+ profession] → percer
vi
[speaker] → s'interrompre
vt
[+ piece, part] → casser
He broke off a piece of chocolate → Il a cassé un bout de chocolat.
He broke off a piece of chocolate → Il a cassé un bout de chocolat.
break out
vi [war, fighting] → éclater; [fire, epidemic] → se déclarer
(= escape) → s'évader
to break out of [+ prison] → s'évader de
to break out in a rash → avoir une éruption cutanée
to break out in a sweat → se mettre à transpirer
to break out of [+ prison] → s'évader de
break out in
vt [+ spots] → se couvrir deto break out in a rash → avoir une éruption cutanée
to break out in a sweat → se mettre à transpirer
break through
vi
(= emerge)
The sun broke through → Le soleil a fait son apparition.
The sun broke through → Le soleil a fait son apparition.
(= achieve success) → percer
vi
[partnership] → cesser, prendre fin
[marriage] → se briser
[telephone line] → couper
you're breaking up (on telephone) → je ne te capte plus, je ne te reçois plus
you're breaking up (on telephone) → je ne te capte plus, je ne te reçois plus
(SCHOOL)
The schools break up next week → Les cours finissent la semaine prochaine., Les vacances scolaires commencent la semaine prochaine.
The children have already broken up → Les enfants sont déjà en vacances.
The schools break up next week → Les cours finissent la semaine prochaine., Les vacances scolaires commencent la semaine prochaine.
The children have already broken up → Les enfants sont déjà en vacances.
[ship] → se disloquer
vt sep
(= smash) → briser
[+ fight, meeting, demonstration] → interrompre, faire cesser
(= divide into pieces) → casser en morceaux
Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005
break
vb: pret <broke>, ptp <broken>NOUN
= fracture in bone, pipe → Bruch m; (Gram, Typ: = word break) → (Silben)trennung f; … he said with a break in his voice → … sagte er mit stockender Stimme; break in the circuit (Elec) → Stromkreisunterbrechung f
= gap → Lücke f; (in rock) → Spalte f, → Riss m; (in drawn line) → Unterbrechung f; row upon row of houses without a break → Häuserzeile auf Häuserzeile, ohne Lücke or lückenlos
= pause also Brit Sch → Pause f; (in journey) → Pause f, → Unterbrechung f; without a break → ohne Unterbrechung or Pause, ununterbrochen; to take or have a break → (eine) Pause machen; at break (Sch) → in der Pause; after the break (Rad, TV) → nach der Pause; give me a break! (inf, expressing annoyance) → nun mach mal halblang! (inf)
= respite → Erholung f; the playgroup gives parents a break → die Spielgruppe verschafft den Eltern etwas Erholung
TRANSITIVE VERB
in pieces = fracture bone → sich (dat) → brechen; stick → zerbrechen; (= smash) → kaputt schlagen, kaputt machen; glass, cup → zerbrechen; window → einschlagen; egg → aufbrechen; to break something from something → etw von etw abbrechen; to break one’s leg → sich (dat) → das Bein brechen; break a leg! (US: inf) → Hals- und Beinbruch! ? heart
= violate promise, treaty, vow → brechen; law, rule, commandment → verletzen; appointment → nicht einhalten; to break bail → die Haftverschonung brechen
= interrupt journey, silence, fast → unterbrechen; spell → brechen; monotony, routine → unterbrechen, auflockern; to break a holiday short (Brit) → einen Urlaub abbrechen
? to break + habit to break a habit → mit einer Gewohnheit brechen, sich (dat) → etw abgewöhnen; he couldn’t break the habit of smoking → er konnte sich das Rauchen nicht abgewöhnen; to break somebody of a habit → jdm etw abgewöhnen
? to break + habit to break a habit → mit einer Gewohnheit brechen, sich (dat) → etw abgewöhnen; he couldn’t break the habit of smoking → er konnte sich das Rauchen nicht abgewöhnen; to break somebody of a habit → jdm etw abgewöhnen
= penetrate skin → ritzen; surface, shell → durchbrechen; his skin is bruised but not broken → seine Haut ist zwar abgeschürft, aber nicht aufgeplatzt; to break surface (submarine, fig) → auftauchen
= destroy person → kleinkriegen (inf), → mürbemachen; resistance, strike → brechen; code → entziffern; (Tennis) serve → durchbrechen; his spirit was broken by the spell in solitary confinement → die Zeit in Einzelhaft hatte ihn seelisch gebrochen; this betrayal nearly broke him → dieser Verrat hätte ihn fast zum Wahnsinn getrieben; to break somebody (financially) → jdn ruinieren, jdn bankrott machen; to break the bank (Gambling) → die Bank sprengen; 37p, well that won’t exactly break the bank → 37 Pence, na, davon gehe ich/gehen wir noch nicht bankrott; his service was broken (Tennis) → er hat das Aufschlagspiel abgegeben
= soften fall → dämpfen, abfangen; the wall breaks the force of the wind → der Wind bricht sich an der Mauer
INTRANSITIVE VERB
in pieces = snap, twig, bone → brechen; (rope) → zerreißen; (= smash, window) → kaputtgehen; (cup, glass) → zerbrechen; breaking strain → Belastbarkeit f
= give way, health → leiden, Schaden nehmen; (stamina) → gebrochen werden; under interrogation etc → zusammenbrechen; his spirit broke → sein Mut verließ ihn
wave → sich brechen
= become known story, news, scandal → bekannt werden, an den Tag or ans Licht kommen; the news broke on Wall Street yesterday → gestern platzte diese Nachricht in der Wall Street
Billiards → anstoßen
ball to break to the right/left → nach rechts/links wegspringen
= end relations → brechen
PHRASAL VERBS
? break away vi
? break down vi
? break forth vi (liter, light, water) → hervorbrechen; (storm) → losbrechen
? break in vi
? break into vi +prep obj
? break off vi
? break open vi → aufspringen vt sep → aufbrechen
? break out vi
? break through vi (Mil, sun) → durchbrechen vi +prep obj defences, barrier, crowd → durchbrechen; to break through somebody’s reserve → jdn aus der Reserve locken
? break up vi
? break away vi
(chair leg, handle etc) → abbrechen (from von); (railway coaches, boats) → sich losreißen (from von)
(= dash away) → weglaufen (from von); (prisoner) → sich losreißen (from von); (Ftbl) → sich absetzen; he broke away from the rest of the field → er hängte das ganze Feld ab
(= cut ties) → sich trennen or lossagen (from von); (US Sport: = start too soon) → fehlstarten, zu früh starten; to break away from a group → sich von einer Gruppe trennen; to break away from the everyday routine → aus der täglichen Routine ausbrechen
vt sep → abbrechen (from von) ? break down vi
(= fail, negotiations, plan, marriage) → scheitern; (communications, law and order, theory) → zusammenbrechen
(= give way: resistance) → zusammenbrechen
(= start crying, have a breakdown) → zusammenbrechen
(= be analysed, expenditure) → sich aufschlüsseln or -gliedern; (theory) → sich unter- or aufgliedern (lassen); (Chem: substance) → sich zerlegen (lassen); (= change its composition: substance) → sich aufspalten (→ into in +acc)
vt sep (to constituent parts) expenditure → aufschlüsseln, aufgliedern; argument → auf- or untergliedern, aufspalten; (= change composition of) → umsetzen
? break forth vi (liter, light, water) → hervorbrechen; (storm) → losbrechen
? break in vi
(= interrupt) → unterbrechen (on sb/sth jdn/etw)
(= enter illegally) → einbrechen
vt sep door → aufbrechen
shoes → einlaufen
? break into vi +prep obj
house → einbrechen in (+acc); safe, car → aufbrechen; his house has been broken into → bei ihm ist eingebrochen worden; his car has been broken into → sein Auto ist aufgebrochen worden
(= use part of) savings, £20 note, rations → anbrechen
(= begin suddenly) to break into song/a run/a trot → zu singen/laufen/traben anfangen, in Laufschritt/Trab (ver)fallen; to break into a smile → zu lächeln beginnen
(professionally) she finally broke into films → schließlich machte sie sich einen Namen beim Film
? break off vi
(branch, piece) → abbrechen (from von)
(= stop) → abbrechen, aufhören; (= stop speaking) → abbrechen; (temporarily) → unterbrechen; to break off from work → die Arbeit abbrechen
vt sep twig, piece of chocolate etc → abbrechen
negotiations, relations → abbrechen; engagement → lösen; she’s broken it off → sie hat die Verlobung gelöst
? break open vi → aufspringen vt sep → aufbrechen
? break out vi
(epidemic, fire, war) → ausbrechen
to break out in a rash/in spots → einen Ausschlag/Pickel bekommen; he broke out in a sweat → er kam ins Schwitzen, ihm brach der Schweiß aus; he broke out in a cold sweat → ihm brach der Angstschweiß aus
(= escape) → ausbrechen (from, of aus)
(= speak suddenly) → herausplatzen, losplatzen
? break through vi (Mil, sun) → durchbrechen vi +prep obj defences, barrier, crowd → durchbrechen; to break through somebody’s reserve → jdn aus der Reserve locken
? break up vi
(clouds) → sich lichten; (crowd, group) → auseinanderlaufen; (meeting, partnership) → sich auflösen; (marriage, relationship) → in die Brüche gehen; (party) → zum Ende kommen; (political party) → sich auflösen, auseinandergehen; (friends, partners) → sich trennen; (empire) → auseinanderfallen; (inf, with laughter) → sich totlachen (inf); to break up with somebody → sich von jdm trennen; when did the party break up last night? → wie lange ging die Party gestern Abend?
(Brit Sch, school, pupils) → aufhören; when do you break up? → wann hört bei euch die Schule auf?, wann habt ihr Ferien?
vt sep ground, road → aufbrechen; oil slick → auflösen; ship → auseinanderbrechen lassen; (in breaker’s yard) → abwracken
estate, country, room → aufteilen; paragraph, sentence → unterteilen; empire → auflösen; lines, expanse of colour → unterbrechen; (= make more interesting) → auflockern
(= bring to an end, disperse) marriage, home → zerstören; meeting (police etc) → auflösen; (trouble-makers) → sprengen; crowd (police) → zerstreuen, auseinandertreiben; he broke up the fight → er trennte die Kämpfer; break it up! → auseinander!
break
:breakbeat
n (Mus) → Breakbeat m
break command
n (Comput) → Unterbrechungsbefehl m
break dance
vi → Breakdance tanzen
break dancer
n → Breakdancetänzer(in) m(f)
break dancing
n → Breakdance m
break
:breakneck
adj at break speed (Brit) → mit halsbrecherischer Geschwindigkeit
break-out
n → Ausbruch m
break point
n (Tennis) → Breakpunkt m
breakthrough
n (Mil, fig) → Durchbruch m
break-up
n
(fig, of friendship) → Bruch m; (of marriage) → Zerrüttung f; (of empire) → Zerfall m; (of political party) → Zersplitterung f; (of partnership, meeting) → Auflösung f; (by trouble-makers) → Sprengung f
break-up value
n (Fin) → Liquidationswert m
breakwater
n → Wellenbrecher m
Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007
break
[breɪk] (broke (vb: pt) (broken (pp)))1. n
a. (gen) → rottura; (fracture) → fenditura; (in bone) → frattura; (in wall, fence) → apertura; (gap) → breccia; (in line, row, electric circuit) → interruzione f
with a break in her voice → con voce rotta or incrinata dall'emozione
a break in the clouds → una schiarita
a break in the weather → un cambiamento di tempo
at break of day → allo spuntare del giorno, sul far del giorno
to make a break for it → darsela a gambe
with a break in her voice → con voce rotta or incrinata dall'emozione
a break in the clouds → una schiarita
a break in the weather → un cambiamento di tempo
at break of day → allo spuntare del giorno, sul far del giorno
to make a break for it → darsela a gambe
b. (in conversation) → pausa, interruzione f; (rest, in journey) → sosta; (tea break) → intervallo (Scol) → ricreazione f, intervallo; (holiday) → vacanza
the Christmas break → le vacanze di Natale
to have or take a break (few minutes) → fare una pausa (rest, holiday) → prendere un po' di riposo
without a break → senza una pausa
the Christmas break → le vacanze di Natale
to have or take a break (few minutes) → fare una pausa (rest, holiday) → prendere un po' di riposo
without a break → senza una pausa
c. (fam) (chance) → possibilità f inv
a lucky break → un colpo di fortuna
give me a break! → dammi questa possibilità! (leave me alone) → lasciami respirare!
a lucky break → un colpo di fortuna
give me a break! → dammi questa possibilità! (leave me alone) → lasciami respirare!
2. vt
a. (gen) → rompere; (bone) → rompere, fratturare; (skin) → lacerare; (surpass, record) → battere
to break one's back/leg → rompersi la schiena/gamba
to break the surface (submarine, diver) → affiorare (alla superficie)
to break sb's heart (fig) → spezzare il cuore a or di qn
to break the ice (fig) → rompere il ghiaccio
to break one's back/leg → rompersi la schiena/gamba
to break the surface (submarine, diver) → affiorare (alla superficie)
to break sb's heart (fig) → spezzare il cuore a or di qn
to break the ice (fig) → rompere il ghiaccio
b. (law, rule) → violare; (promise) → mancare a; (vow) → rompere; (appointment) → disdire, mandare all'aria
to break the law → infrangere la legge
to break the law → infrangere la legge
c. (resistance, spirits) → fiaccare, annientare; (health) → rovinare; (strike) → domare, stroncare
I can't break the habit → non riesco a perdere il vizio
to break sb (financially) → mandare in rovina qn
I can't break the habit → non riesco a perdere il vizio
to break sb (financially) → mandare in rovina qn
d. (silence, spell) → rompere; (journey) → spezzare, interrompere; (electrical circuit) → interrompere
f. (bad news) to break the news to sb → comunicare per primo la notizia a qn
try to break it to her gently → cerca di dirglielo con tatto
try to break it to her gently → cerca di dirglielo con tatto
3. vi
a. (gen) → rompersi; (wave) → frangersi, infrangersi (fig) (heart) → spezzarsi
to break into tiny pieces → andare in frantumi or in mille pezzi
the stick broke in two → il bastone si è spezzato in due
let's break for lunch → facciamo una sosta per pranzo
to break with sb (fig) → rompere con qn
to break free or loose → liberarsi
to break into tiny pieces → andare in frantumi or in mille pezzi
the stick broke in two → il bastone si è spezzato in due
let's break for lunch → facciamo una sosta per pranzo
to break with sb (fig) → rompere con qn
to break free or loose → liberarsi
break down
1. vt + adv
b. (analyse, figures) → analizzare; (substance) → scomporre
2. vi + adv (machine) → rompersi, guastarsi (Aut) → restare in panne, avere un guasto, rompersi; (person, under pressure) → crollare; (from emotion) → scoppiare in lacrime; (mentally) → avere un esaurimento (nervoso); (health) → cedere; (talks) → arenarsi
break even vi (in business) → coprire le spese; (in gambling) → finire pari
break in
1. vt + adv
a. (door) → sfondare
b. (train, horse) → domare; (new recruit) → addestrare
2. vi
a. (burglar) → fare irruzione
b. (interrupt) to break in (on sb/sth) → interrompere (qn/qc)
break into vi + prep
b. (begin suddenly) to break into song/a trot → mettersi a cantare/trottare
break off
2. vi + adv
a. (twig) → staccarsi
b. (speaker) → interrompersi; (stop) to break off (from doing sth) → smettere (di fare qc)
to break off from work → interrompere il lavoro
to break off from work → interrompere il lavoro
break open vt (door) → sfondare
break out vi + adv
a. (prisoners) to break out (of) → evadere (da)
b. (war, fire, argument) → scoppiare; (violence) → esplodere
to break out in spots → coprirsi di macchie
to break out in spots → coprirsi di macchie
break through
1. vi + adv (Mil) → aprirsi un varco, sfondare
the sun broke through → il sole ha fatto capolino tra le nuvole
the sun broke through → il sole ha fatto capolino tra le nuvole
2. vi + prep (defences, barrier) → penetrare in, sfondare; (crowd) → aprirsi un varco in or tra, aprirsi un passaggio in or tra
break up
1. vt + adv (rocks) → fare a pezzi, spaccare; (marriage) → finire; (crowd, clouds) → disperdere; (fight) → interrompere, far cessare
2. vi + adv (ship) → andare in or a pezzi, sfondarsi; (ice) → spaccarsi, disintegrarsi; (partnership, meeting) → sciogliersi; (friends) → separarsi; (marriage) → andare in pezzi; (crowd, clouds) → disperdersi
the schools break up tomorrow → le scuole chiudono domani
the schools break up tomorrow → le scuole chiudono domani
Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995
break
(breik) – past tense broke (brouk) : past participle brəken (ˈbroukən) – verb1. to divide into two or more parts (by force).
2. (usually with off/away) to separate (a part) from the whole (by force).
3. to make or become unusable.
4. to go against, or not act according to (the law etc). He broke his appointment at the last minute.
5. to do better than (a sporting etc record).
6. to interrupt. She broke her journey in London.
7. to put an end to. He broke the silence.
8. to make or become known. They gently broke the news of his death to his wife.
9. (of a boy's voice) to fall in pitch.
10. to soften the effect of (a fall, the force of the wind etc).
11. to begin. The storm broke before they reached shelter.
noun1. a pause. a break in the conversation.
2. a change. a break in the weather.
3. an opening.
4. a chance or piece of (good or bad) luck. This is your big break.
ˈbreakable adjective (negative unbreakable) likely to break. breakable toys.
noun (usually in plural) something likely to break.
ˈbreakage (-kidʒ) noun the act of breaking, or its result(s).
ˈbreaker noun a (large) wave which breaks on rocks or the beach.
ˈbreakdown noun1. (often nervous breakdown) a mental collapse.
2. a mechanical failure causing a stop. The car has had another breakdown. See also break down.
break-inbreak in(to)ˈbreakneck adjective (usually of speed) dangerous. He drove at breakneck speed.
breakoutbreak outˈbreakthrough noun a sudden solution of a problem leading to further advances, especially in science.
ˈbreakwater noun a barrier to break the force of the waves.
break away to escape from control. The dog broke away from its owner.
break down1. to use force on (a door etc) to cause it to open.
2. to stop working properly. My car has broken down.
3. to fail. The talks have broken down.
4. to be overcome with emotion. She broke down and wept.
break in(to)1. to enter (a house etc) by force or unexpectedly (noun ˈbreak-in. The Smiths have had two break-ins recently).
2. to interrupt (someone's conversation etc).
break loose to escape from control. The dog has broken loose.
break off to stop. She broke off in the middle of a sentence.
break out1. to appear or happen suddenly. War has broken out.
2. to escape (from prison, restrictions etc). A prisoner has broken out (noun ˈbreakout).
break out in to (suddenly) become covered in a rash, in sweat etc. I'm allergic to strawberries. They make me break out in a rash.
break the ice to overcome the first shyness etc. Let's break the ice by inviting our new neighbours for a meal.
break up1. to divide, separate or break into pieces. He broke up the old furniture and burnt it; John and Mary broke up (= separated from each other) last week.
2. to finish or end. The meeting broke up at 4.40.
make a break for it to make an (attempt to) escape. When the guard is not looking, make a break for it.
Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary © 2006-2013 K Dictionaries Ltd.
break
→ كَسْر, يَكْسِر, يَكْسِرُ přestávka, rozbít, rozbít (se) brække, brud, ødelægge brechen, Bruch σπάσιμο, σπάω, χαλώ fractura, romper, ruptura murtuma, rikkoa arrêter, casser, cassure prijelom, razviti, slomiti frattura, rompere 割る, 壊れる/壊す, 破壊 ...을 깨다, 골절, 중단하다 breken, breuk, kapot gaan brekke, ødelegge, pause zepsuć, złamać, złamanie estragar, fractura, fratura, quebrar перерыв, прерывать, сломать gå sönder, ha sönder, rast เสีย ชำรุด, การแตกหัก, ฝ่าฝืน ขัดขืน bozmak, kırık, kırmak hỏng hóc, làm vỡ, sự vỡ 弄坏, 弄断, 打破Multilingual Translator © HarperCollins Publishers 2009
break
n. fractura, rotura; quebradura;
v. fracturarse, romperse, quebrarse;
to ___ down → [health] perder la salud;
to ___ in → forzar, abrir;
to ___ loose → separarse, desprenderse;
to ___ through → avanzar;
to ___ up → fraccionar;
v. romper, quebrar, fracturar.
English-Spanish Medical Dictionary © Farlex 2012
Collins Multilingual Translator © HarperCollins Publishers 2009
break
n (ortho, fam) fractura, quebradura (fam); vt, vi (pret broke; pp broken) (ortho, etc.) fracturar(se), romper-(se) (fam); (a fever) quitar(se); I broke my foot..Me fracturé (rompí) el pie… to break the fever..quitar la fiebre; to — out (one’s skin) salir(le) (a uno) granos; When did your skin break out?..¿Cuándo le salieron granos?; to — up (romance) terminar, romper; She broke up with him..Ella terminó con él…They broke up..Terminaron.English-Spanish/Spanish-English Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2006 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.