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1. Dictionary

   break

   /breɪk/

   verb

   • 1. separate or cause to separate into pieces as a result of a blow, shock, or strain: "the branch broke with a loud snap" Similar shattersmashsmash to smithereenscracksnapfracturefragmentsplinterdisintegratefall to bitsfall to piecessplitburstblow outtearrendseverruptureseparatedivideinformal:bustrare:shiverOpposite repairmend
   • ▪ sustain an injury involving the fracture of a bone or bones in a part of the body: "she had broken her leg in two places" Similar fracturecracksmash
   • ▪ cause a cut or graze in (the skin): "the bite had scarcely broken the skin" Similar piercepuncturepenetrateperforatecutgrazemake a flesh wound in
   • ▪ make or become inoperative: "the machine has broken and they can't fix it until next week" Similar stop workingcease to work/functionbreak downgo wronggive outdevelop a faultmalfunctionbe damagedbe unusablecrashinformal:go kaputgo/be on the blinkdiegive up the ghostconk outgo phutgo haywirehave had itpack up
   • ▪ (of the amniotic fluid surrounding a fetus) be discharged when the sac is ruptured in the first stages of labour: "she realized her waters had broken"
   • ▪ open (a safe) forcibly. informal
   • ▪ use (a banknote) to pay for something and receive change out of the transaction: "she had to break a tenner"
   • ▪ (of two boxers or wrestlers) come out of a clinch, especially at the referee's command: "I was acting as referee and telling them to break"
   • ▪ make the first stroke at the beginning of a game of billiards, pool, or snooker.
   • ▪ unfurl (a flag or sail).
   • ▪ succeed in deciphering (a code): "ciphers are easily broken by the new wonder machines" Similar decipherdecodedecryptunravelsolvework outinformal:crackfigure out
   • ▪ disprove (an alibi).
   • 2. interrupt (a sequence, course, or continuous state): "this broke the pattern of generations remaining in the place where they were born" Similar interruptdisturbinterfere with
   • ▪ put an end to (a silence) by speaking or making contact: "it was some time before he broke the silence"
   • ▪ make a pause in (a journey): British "we will break our journey in Venice"
   • ▪ rest or stop proceedings for a while: "at mid-morning they broke for coffee" Similar stoppausetake/have a breakhave a restrecesssuspend proceedingsinformal:knock offtake/have a breathertake fiveOpposite resume
   • ▪ lessen the impact of (a fall): "she put out an arm to break her fall" Similar cushionlessen/reduce/soften the impact oftake the edge offdiminishmoderatemitigate
   • ▪ disconnect or interrupt (an electric circuit): "a multimeter able to measure current without having to break the circuit under test"
   • ▪ stop oneself from engaging in (a habitual practice): "try to break the habit of adding salt at the table" Similar give uprelinquishdropget out ofinformal:kickshakepack inquit
   • ▪ surpass (a record): "the film broke box office records in the US" Similar exceedsurpassbeatbettercaptoptrumpoutdooutstripgo beyondeclipseput in the shadeinformal:leave standing
   • 3. fail to observe (a law, regulation, or agreement): "the council says it will prosecute traders who break the law" Similar contraveneviolatefail to comply withfail to observedisobeyinfringebreachcommit a breach oftransgress againstdefyfloutfly in the face ofignoredisregardinfractOpposite keepabide by
   • ▪ fail to continue with (a self-imposed discipline): "diets started without preparation are broken all the time"
   • 4. crush the emotional strength, spirit, or resistance of: "the idea was to better the prisoners, not to break them"
   • ▪ (of a person's emotional strength or control) give way: "her self-control finally broke" Similar give waycollapsecrackbe overcomegive incave inyieldcrumplego to pieces
   • ▪ destroy the power of (a movement or organization): "the management are out to break the union" Similar destroycrushsmashquashdefeatvanquishovercomeoverpoweroverwhelmcripplebring someone to their kneesweakenenfeeblesapsuppresssubduecowdispiritimpairunderminedemoralizeincapacitateextinguish
   • ▪ destroy the effectiveness of (a strike), typically by bringing in other people to replace the striking workers: "the company has attempted to break the strike using non-union labour"
   • ▪ tame or train (a horse).
   • 5. (of the weather) change suddenly, especially after a fine spell: "the weather broke and thunder rumbled through a leaden sky" Similar changeundergo a changealtershiftmetamorphose
   • ▪ (of a storm) begin violently: "when all were aboard, the storm broke"
   • ▪ (of dawn or a day) begin as the sun rises: "dawn was just breaking" Similar dawnbeginstartcome into beingcome forthemergeappear
   • ▪ (of clouds) move apart and begin to disperse: "on the seventh of September the clouds broke for the first time"
   • ▪ (of waves) curl over and dissolve into foam: "the Caribbean sea was breaking gently on the shore" Similar crashdashbeatpoundlashbatter
   • ▪ (of a person's voice) falter and change tone, due to emotion: "her voice broke as she relived the experience" Similar falterquaverquivertrembleshake
   • ▪ (of a boy's voice) change in tone and register at puberty: "after his voice broke, he left the choir"
   • ▪ (of a vowel) develop into a diphthong, under the influence of an adjacent sound.
   • ▪ (of prices on the stock exchange) fall sharply.
   • 6. (of news or a scandal) suddenly become public: "since the news broke I've received thousands of wonderful letters" Similar eruptburst outbreak out
   • ▪ make bad news known to (someone): "he was trying to break the terrible news gently to his father" Similar revealdisclosedivulgelet outannouncetellimpartmake publicmake knownreleaseproclaim
   • 7. (chiefly of an attacking player or team, or of a military force) make a rush or dash in a particular direction: "Mitchell won possession and broke quickly, allowing Hughes to score"
   • ▪ (of a bowled cricket ball) change direction on bouncing, due to spin.
   • ▪ (of a ball) rebound unpredictably: "the ball broke to Craig but his shot rebounded from the post"

   noun

   • 1. an interruption of continuity or uniformity: "the magazine has been published without a break since 1950" Similar interruptionintervalgaphiatuslapse of timelacunadiscontinuationdiscontinuancediscontinuitysuspensiondisruptioncut-offstopstoppagecessationcaesuraarchaic:surcease
   • ▪ an act of separating oneself from a pre-existing state of affairs: "a break with the past"
   • ▪ a change in the weather: "a week or so may pass without a break in the weather" Similar changealterationvariation
   • ▪ a change of line, paragraph, or page: "dotted lines on the screen show page breaks"
   • ▪ a change of tone in a person's voice due to emotion: "there was a break in her voice now"
   • ▪ an interruption in an electric circuit.
   • ▪ the winning of a game against an opponent's serve.
   • 2. a pause in work or during an activity or event: "I need a break from mental activity" Similar restrespiteintervalbreathing spacelullrecessstoppausetea breakcoffee breakintermissioninterludeentr'acteinformal:breatherlet-uptime outdowntimesmoko
   • ▪ an interval during the school day: British "the bell went for break"
   • ▪ a short holiday: "a weekend break in the Cotswolds" Similar time offperiod of leaveholidayminibreakvacationinformal:staycationvacvacay
   • ▪ a short solo or instrumental passage in jazz or popular music.
   • ▪ dance music featuring breakbeats.
   • 3. a gap or opening: "the track bends left through a break in the hedge" Similar gapopeningspaceholebreachchinkcrackfissurecleftriftchasmtearsplitslitrentrupture
   • 4. an instance of breaking something, or the point where something is broken: "he was stretchered off with a break to the leg"
   • 5. a rush or dash in a particular direction, especially by an attacking player or team: "Norwich scored on a rare break with 11 minutes left"
   • ▪ an escape, typically from prison. informal
   • ▪ a change in the direction of a bowled ball on bouncing.
   • 6. an opportunity or chance, especially one leading to professional success: informal "he got his break as an entertainer on a TV music hall show" Similar opportunitystroke of luckchanceopeningfoot in the door
   • 7. a consecutive series of successful shots, scoring a specified number of points: "a break of 83 put him in front for the first time"
   • ▪ a player's turn to make the opening shot of a game: "whose break is it?"
   • 8. a bud or shoot sprouting from a stem.

   Word Origin Old Englishbrecan (verb), of Germanic origin; related to Dutch breken and German brechen, from an Indo-European root shared by Latin frangere ‘to break’.

   Scrabble Points: 11

   • B

     3

   • R

     1

   • E

     1

   • A

     1

   • K

     5

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2. People also ask

   What does break mean?

   • Get a quick, free translation! BREAK definition: 1. to (cause something to) separate suddenly or violently into two or more pieces, or to (cause…. Learn more.

   BREAK | English meaning - Cambridge Dictionary

   dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/break

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   What does it mean if something is 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. 5. to discontinue or become discontinued: they broke for lunch; to break a journey. 6. to disperse or become dispersed: the clouds broke.

   Break - definition of break by The Free Dictionary

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   What is a synonym for break?

   • 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.

   Break - definition of break by The Free Dictionary

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   What is the difference between break and take a break?

   • When you break something, you ruin it. When you take a break, you stop and rest. If you play catch during your lunch break, try not to break any windows. The verb break means to fracture or crack or destroy something while the noun refers to an interruption or a little time off.

   Break - Definition, Meaning & Synonyms | Vocabulary.com

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3. www.merriam-webster.com › dictionary › breakBreak Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster

   www.merriam-webster.com › dictionary › break

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   The meaning of BREAK is to separate into parts with suddenness or violence. How to use break in a sentence. Break and Brake: Remembering Which Is Which

4. dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › englishBREAK | English meaning - Cambridge Dictionary

   dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › english

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   BREAK definition: 1. to (cause something to) separate suddenly or violently into two or more pieces, or to (cause…. Learn more.

5. www.collinsdictionary.com › dictionary › englishBREAK definition and meaning | Collins English Dictionary

   www.collinsdictionary.com › dictionary › english

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   A break is a short period of time when you have a rest or a change from what you are doing, especially if you are working or if you are in a boring or unpleasant situation.

6. www.vocabulary.com › dictionary › breakBreak - Definition, Meaning & Synonyms | Vocabulary.com

   www.vocabulary.com › dictionary › break

   The verb break means to fracture or crack or destroy something while the noun refers to an interruption or a little time off. To " break the ice" is to warm up a conversation that's a little awkward or cold because the people involved don't know one another.

7. www.thefreedictionary.com › breakBreak - definition of break by The Free Dictionary

   www.thefreedictionary.com › break

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   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.

   1.	Break - Some Abrupt Occurrence That ...
   2.	break - an unexpected piece of good luck;
   3.	break - (geology) a crack in the earth's ...
   4.	break - a personal or social separation ...
   5.	break - a pause from doing something (as ...

   See full list on thefreedictionary.com

8. www.dictionary.com › browse › breakBREAK Definition & Meaning | Dictionary.com

   www.dictionary.com › browse › break

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   Break definition: to smash, split, or divide into parts violently; reduce to pieces or fragments. See examples of BREAK used in a sentence.

9. dictionary.cambridge.org › learner-english › breakBREAK | definition in the Cambridge Learner’s Dictionary

   dictionary.cambridge.org › learner-english › break

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   to tell someone about something unpleasant that has happened: Who's going to break the news to his wife? break the silence. B2. to make a noise, speak, etc and end a period of silence: The silence was broken by a sudden knock at the door. break a habit/routine, etc.