breakaway

[ breyk-uh-wey ]
See synonyms for breakaway on Thesaurus.com
noun
  1. an act or instance of breaking away; secession; separation: the breakaway of two provinces from a state.

  2. a departure or break from routine or tradition: a three-day breakaway in the Bahamas.

  1. a person or thing that breaks away.

  2. an object, as a theatrical prop, constructed so that it breaks or falls apart easily, especially upon impact.

  3. Ice Hockey. a sudden rush down the ice by a player or players in an attempt to score a goal, after breaking clear of defending opponents.

  4. Football. a run by an offensive player breaking through the defense for a long gain.

  5. Basketball. fast break.

  6. Australian.

    • a stampede.

    • an animal that breaks away from the herd or flock.

adjective
  1. of, relating to, or being that which separates or secedes: the breakaway faction of the Socialist party.

  2. departing from routine or tradition.

  1. constructed of such lightweight material or in such a way as to shatter or come apart easily: breakaway highway signposts; Build a breakaway set for the barroom brawl.

  2. (of theatrical costumes) constructed so as to be quickly removable, as by a performer playing several roles.

Origin of breakaway

1
First recorded in 1885–95; noun, adj. use of verb phrase break away

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use breakaway in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for breakaway

breakaway

/ (ˈbreɪkəˌweɪ) /


noun
    • loss or withdrawal of a group of members from an association, club, etc

    • (as modifier): a breakaway faction

  1. sport

    • a sudden attack, esp from a defensive position, in football, hockey, etc

    • an attempt to get away from the rest of the field in a race

  1. Australian a stampede of cattle, esp at the smell of water

verbbreak away (intr, adverb)
  1. (often foll by from) to leave hastily or escape

  2. to withdraw or secede

  1. sport to make a breakaway

  2. horse racing to start prematurely

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Idioms and Phrases with breakaway

breakaway

Leave hurriedly, escape, get loose. For example, The boy tried to break away, but his mother held onto his coat, or On the last lap the horse broke away from the pack. [First half of 1500s]

The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.