Valid in these dictionaries
Meaning of ‘break’
61 definitions found.
to act in disregard of laws, rules, contracts, or promises
Example: "You broke the rules, so we'll have to think about whether or not we will permit you here in the future."
Synonyms: breach offend transgress go against infract
to enter someone's virtual or real property in an unauthorized manner, usually with the intent to steal or commit a violent act
Example: "They broke into our house!"
Synonyms: break in
to happen or take place
Example: "Things have been breaking pretty well for us in the past few months."
to fail to agree with
Example: "I think this is the first time running this business together that we've had a break."
Synonyms: go against
to give up
Example: "I tried to break cigarette smoking for my new partner."
to cause to give up a habit
Example: "I broke my smoking habits two years ago."
to vary or interrupt a uniformity or continuity
Example: "There was a break in the storm."
an escape from jail
Example: "the breakout was carefully planned"
Synonyms: breakout
any frame in which a bowler fails to make a strike or spare
Example: "The break in the eighth frame cost our bowling team the match."
Synonyms: open frame
a sudden dash
Example: "We made a break for the door as soon as the rain let up."
the act of breaking something, making it unusable
Example: "The break of the record player meant it no longer worked."
Synonyms: breakage breaking
an act of delaying or interrupting the continuity
Example: "it was presented without commercial breaks"
Synonyms: interruption disruption gap
in tennis, a score consisting of winning a game when your opponent was serving
Example: "I was up two breaks in the second set."
Synonyms: break of serve
the opening shot that scatters the balls in billiards or pool
a pause from doing something (as work)
Example: "we took a 10-minute break"
Synonyms: respite recess time out
an abrupt change in the tone or register of the voice as at puberty or due to emotion
Example: "I felt so strongly, that I knew that my voice would break if I spoke."
a personal or social separation (as between opposing factions)
Example: "they hoped to avoid a break in relations"
Synonyms: breach
an unexpected piece of good luck
Example: "They finally got their big break."
Synonyms: good luck happy chance
the occurrence of breaking
Example: "the break in the dam threatened the valley"
some abrupt occurrence that interrupts an ongoing activity
Synonyms: interruption
(geology) a crack in the earth's crust resulting from the displacement of one side with respect to the other
Synonyms: fault
breaking of hard tissue such as bone
Synonyms: fracture
a time interval during which there is a temporary cessation of something
Synonyms: suspension interruption pause intermission
to weaken or destroy in spirit or body
Example: "The devastating news broke them."
to fracture a bone of
Example: "I broke my leg."
Synonyms: fracture
to make submissive, obedient, or useful
Example: "The horse was tough to break."
Synonyms: break in
to be broken in
Example: "If the new teacher won't break, we'll add some stress."
to crack something
Example: "I broke the vase."
to become separated into pieces or fragments
Example: "I dropped the glass and it broke."
Synonyms: separate split up fall apart come apart
to destroy the integrity of
Example: "They broke their wedding vows."
to lessen in force or effect
Example: "The storm finally broke sometime after midnight."
Synonyms: damp weaken dampen soften
to stop operating or functioning
Example: "My clock broke last night."
Synonyms: go die conk out fail go bad give way give out
to change suddenly from one tone quality or register to another
Example: "The singer broke into a falsetto for the high parts of the song."
to find the solution or key to
Example: "I had to break the code to understand the message."
to find a flaw in
Example: "This new information will break the suspect's alibi."
to interrupt the flow of current in
Example: "They broke a circuit while soldering."
to cease an action temporarily
Example: "We will break for one hour."
Synonyms: pause intermit
to be released or become known
Example: "The album broke last week."
Synonyms: get out get around
to pierce or penetrate
Example: "The needle broke the surface of the cloth."
to become punctured or penetrated
Example: "You broke the skin."
to break a piece from a whole
Example: "I tried to break a branch from the tree."
Synonyms: snap off
to go to pieces
Example: "The vase broke."
Synonyms: bust wear wear out fall apart
to ruin completely
Example: "I broke the remote."
Synonyms: bust
to separate from a clinch, in boxing
Example: "The boxers were forced to break over a dozen times in the first round."
to make the opening shot that scatters the balls
Example: "It's my turn to break."
to destroy the completeness of a set of related items
Example: "The book dealer would not break the set."
Synonyms: break up
to exchange for smaller units of money
Example: "I had to break a $100 bill just to buy the candy."
to force out or release suddenly and often violently something pent up
Example: "They break into tears at the drop of a hat."
Synonyms: burst erupt
to do a break dance
Example: "Kids were breaking at the street corner."
Synonyms: break dance break-dance
to curl over and fall apart in surf or foam, of waves
Example: "The waves are breaking nicely today."
to break down, literally or metaphorically
Example: "When no one came to their birthday party for the second year in a row, the child broke."
Synonyms: collapse give cave in founder give way fall in
to emerge from the surface of a body of water
Example: "The dolphin broke through the water's surface making beautiful ripples."
to scatter or part
Example: "They broke towards the woods."
to make a rupture in the ranks of the enemy or one's own by quitting or fleeing
Example: "We finally broke through their advancing line."
to move away or escape suddenly
Example: "We made our break from the line and headed for the fence."
Synonyms: break out break away
to change directions suddenly
Example: "We wind broke west."
to reduce to bankruptcy
Example: "Our fancy wedding is going to break us!"
Synonyms: smash bankrupt ruin
to discontinue an association or relation
Example: "Our country broke ties with our former trading partner."
Synonyms: part separate split split up break up
to invalidate by judicial action
Example: "We went to court to break the will, or else we wouldn't get any money."
to interrupt a continued activity
Example: "I broke your winning streak."
Synonyms: break away
to cause the failure or ruin of
Example: "I broke the car."
Source: WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University
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