Definition for break - Oxford Dictionaries Online (World English)

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	break1 (break) Pronunciation: /breɪk/ verb (past broke /brəʊk/; past participle broken /ˈbrəʊkən/) 1separate into pieces as a result of a blow, shock, or strain: [no object]: the rope broke with a loud snap [with object]: windows in the street were broken by the blast sustain an injury involving the fracture of a bone or bones in a part of the body: [with object]: she had broken her leg in two places [no object]: what if his leg had broken? [with object] cause a cut or graze in (the skin): the bite had scarcely broken the skin make or become inoperative: [no object]: the machine has broken and they can’t fix it until next week [with object]: he’s broken the video [no object] (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 [with object] informal open (a safe) forcibly. [with object] use (a banknote) to pay for something and receive change out of the transaction: she had to break a tenner [no object] (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 [no object] make the first stroke at the beginning of a game of billiards, pool, or snooker. [with object] unfurl (a flag or sail). [with object] succeed in deciphering (a code): ciphers are easily broken by the new wonder machines [with object] disprove (an alibi). 2 [with object] interrupt (a continuity, sequence, or course): the new government broke the pattern of growth his concentration was broken by a sound put an end to (a silence) by speaking or making contact: it was some time before he broke the silence chiefly British make a pause in (a journey): we will break our journey in Venice [no object] stop proceedings in order to have a pause or vacation: at mid-morning they broke for* coffee* lessen the impact of (a fall): she put out an arm to break her fall disconnect or interrupt (an electric circuit): a multimeter able to measure current without having to break the circuit under test stop oneself being subject to (a habit): try to break the habit of adding salt at the table surpass (a record): the film broke box office records in the US 3 [with object] fail to observe (a law, regulation, or agreement): the council says it will prosecute traders who break the law a legally binding contract which can only be broken by mutual consent fail to continue with (a self-imposed discipline): diets started without preparation are broken all the time 4 [with object] crush the emotional strength, spirit, or resistance of: the idea was to better the prisoners, not to break them [no object] (of a person’s emotional strength or control) give way: her self-control finally broke destroy the power of (a movement or organization): strategies used to break the union destroy the effectiveness of (a strike), typically by moving in other people to replace the striking workers: a government threat to use the army to break the strike 5 [no object] undergo a change or enter a new state, in particular: (of the weather) change suddenly, especially after a fine spell: the weather broke and thunder rumbled through a leaden sky (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 (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 (of a person’s voice) falter and change tone, due to emotion: her voice broke as she relived the experience (of a boy’s voice) change in tone and register at puberty: after his voice broke, he left the choir Phonetics (of a vowel) develop into a diphthong, under the influence of an adjacent sound. (of prices on the stock exchange) fall sharply. 6 [no object] (of news or a scandal) suddenly become public: since the news broke I’ve received thousands of wonderful letters [with object] (break something to) make bad news known to (someone): he was trying to break the terrible news gently to his father 7 [no object, with adverbial] (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. Sport (of the ball) rebound unpredictably: the ball broke to Craig but his shot rebounded from the post noun 1an interruption of continuity or uniformity: the magazine has been published without a break since 1950 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 [with modifier] 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. (also break of serve or service break) Tennis the winning of a game against an opponent’s serve. 2a pause in work or during an activity or event: I need a break from* mental activity* those returning to work after a career break a coffee break British an interval during the school day: the bell went for break a short holiday: a weekend break in the Cotswolds a short solo or instrumental passage in jazz or popular music. (breaks) dance music featuring breakbeats. 3a gap or opening: the track bends left through a break in the hedge he stopped to wait for a break in the traffic 4an instance of breaking something, or the point where something is broken: he was stretchered off with a break to the leg 5a rush or dash in a particular direction, especially by an attacking player or team: Norwich scored on a rare break with 11 minutes left informal an escape, typically from prison. Cricket a change in the direction of a bowled ball on bouncing. 6 informal an opportunity or chance, especially one leading to professional success: his big break came when a critic gave him a rave review 7 Snooker & Billiards 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? 8a bud or shoot sprouting from a stem. Phrases break one's back put great effort into achieving something: as soon as we finished I’d break my back to get home to her break the back of accomplish the main or hardest part of (a task): we’ve broken the back of the problem overwhelm or defeat: I thought we really had broken the back of inflation break the bank see bank² break bread see bread break camp see camp¹ break even reach a point in a business venture when the profits are equal to the costs: the firm will break even at the operating level this year break someone's heart see heart break the ice see ice break in two break into two parts: the slate fell from my hand and broke in two on the hard floor break a leg! theatrical slang good luck!. break the mould see mould¹ break of day dawn. break something open open something forcibly: thieves used a stolen car to break open the store’s front door break rank see rank¹ break (someone's) serve (or service) win a game in a tennis match against an opponent’s service: he broke serve twice in the third set break ship Nautical fail to rejoin one’s ship after absence on leave. break step see step break wind release gas from the anus. a clean break a complete separation from a situation or relationship: Dan decided it was best to make a clean break with* the past* give someone a break informal stop putting pressure on someone about something: give the poor guy a break (give me a break) used to express contemptuous disagreement or disbelief about what has been said: He’s seven times as quick and he’s only 20 years old—give me a break! make a break for make a sudden dash in the direction of, especially in a bid to escape: he made a break for the door that's (or them's) the breaks North American informal that’s the way things turn out (used to express resigned acceptance of a situation). Phrasal Verbs break away escape from someone’s hold: Anna attempted to break away, but he held her tight escape from the control of a person, group, or practice: an attempt to break away from* the elitism that has dominated the book trade* (of a competitor in a race) move into the lead: he broke away and opened up a 40-second lead break down 1(of a machine or motor vehicle) suddenly cease to function: his van broke down (of a relationship, agreement, or process) cease to continue; collapse: pay negotiations with management broke down lose control of one’s emotions when in a state of distress: the old woman broke down in tears (of a person’s health or emotional control) fail or collapse: his health broke down under the strain of overwork Janet’s normal self-control and impassiveness had broken down utterly 2undergo chemical decomposition: waste products which break down into* low-level toxic materials* break something down 1demolish a door or other barrier: they had to get the police to break the door down figurative class barriers can be broken down by educational reform 2separate something into a number of parts: each tutorial is broken down into more manageable units analyse information: bar graphs show how the information can be broken down convert a substance into simpler compounds by chemical action: almost every natural substance can be broken down by bacteria break forth burst out suddenly; emerge: having to control the chaos that might break forth break free another way of saying break away break in 1force entry to a building: would-be thieves had smashed the door lock in an attempt to break in 2 [with direct speech] interject: ‘I don’t want to interfere,’ Mrs Hendry broke in the doctor’s voice broke in on* her thoughts* break someone in 1familiarize someone with a new job or situation: there was no time to break in a new foreign minister 2 (break a horse in) accustom a horse to a saddle and bridle, and to being ridden: I break in my dad’s horses break something in wear something, typically a pair of new shoes, until it becomes supple and comfortable. break into 1enter or open (a place, vehicle, or container) forcibly, especially for the purposes of theft: two raiders broke into his home a friend of mine had his car broken into succeed in winning a share of (a market or a position in a profession): foreign companies have largely failed to break into the domestic-equity business interrupt (a conversation): Phil broke into the discussion 2suddenly or unexpectedly burst forth into (laughter or song): he broke into a fit of choking laughter (of a person’s face or mouth) relax into (a smile): John’s face broke into a grin 3change one’s pace to (a faster one): Greg broke into a sprint break off 1become severed: the fuselage had broken off just behind the pilot’s seat 2abruptly stop talking: she broke off, stifling a sob break something off 1remove something from a larger unit or whole: Tucker broke off a piece of bread 2abruptly end or discontinue something: Britain threatened to break off diplomatic relations break out 1(of war, fighting, or similarly undesirable things) start suddenly: forest fires have broken out across Indonesia (of a physical discomfort) suddenly manifest itself: prickles of sweat had broken out along her backbone 2escape: a prisoner broke out of* his cell* break out in be suddenly affected by an unpleasant sensation or condition: she had broken out in a rash break something out informal open and start using something: it was time to break out the champagne break through make or force a way through (a barrier): demonstrators attempted to break through the police lines the sun might break through in a few spots achieve success in a particular area: so many talented players are struggling to break through break up disintegrate or disperse: the grey clouds had begun to break up (of a gathering or collective) disband; end: after about an hour, the meeting broke up chiefly British end the school term: we broke up for the summer (of a couple in a relationship) part company: I was heartbroken when we broke up (of a radio or telephone signal) be interrupted by interference. chiefly North American start laughing uncontrollably: the whole cast broke up chiefly North American become emotionally upset. break someone up chiefly North American cause someone to become extremely upset: seeing the children again nearly broke her up break something up cause something to separate into several pieces, parts, or sections: break up the chocolate and place it in a bowl he intends to break the company up into strategic business units cut something up for scrap metal: she was towed to Bo’Ness and broken up disperse or put an end to a gathering: police broke up a demonstration in the capital cause a relationship to dissolve: I’m not going to let you break up my marriage bring a social event or meeting to an end by being the first person to leave: Richard was sorry to break up the party break with quarrel or cease relations with (someone): he had broken with his family long before act in a way that is not in accordance with (a custom or tradition): institutions which are dynamically prepared to break with tradition Origin: Old English brecan (verb), of Germanic origin; related to Dutch breken and German brechen, from an Indo-European root shared by Latin frangere 'to break' Spelling help The different forms of the verb are: (breaks, breaking; the past tense is broke and the past participle is broken). Do not confuse brake with break. Brake means 'a device for slowing or stopping a vehicle' or 'slow or stop a vehicle' ( I had to brake hard), whereas break mainly means 'separate into pieces' ( he managed to break a few ribs) or 'a pause or interruption' ( a coffee break).		Search results in the dictionary break² break in brake¹ break in brake² break in brake³ break in brake⁴ break in brake (also brake fern)⁵ More results » Nearby Words breaded breadfruit breadhead breadline breadstick breadstuff breadth breadthways breadwinner break ¹ break ² break crop break feeding break point break-bulk break-even break-fall break-in break-off