breakup

American  

[breyk-uhp] / ˈbreɪkˌʌp /

noun

1. disintegration; disruption; dispersal.

2. the ending of a personal, especially a romantic, relationship.

3. (in Alaska and Canada)

   1. the melting and loosening of ice in rivers and harbors during the early spring.

   2. the first day on which such ice is soft or dispersed enough to permit ships to use the waterways.

4. Informal. an act or instance of being convulsed with laughter.

5. temporary distortion in a televised picture.

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Etymology

Origin of breakup

First recorded in 1785–95; noun use of verb phrase break up

Example Sentences

More than that, it also created what fans had been clamoring for ever since the sport’s big breakup: a step toward reunification.

From The Wall Street Journal

Scandals, competitions and breakups are par for the course on reality shows, but this year also brought some tender moments that made for must-see TV.

From Los Angeles Times

If a breakup goes ahead, Barrick said it intends to retain a controlling majority interest in the new company, along with its various other assets globally.

From The Wall Street Journal

He refused to grant government lawyers their request for a Google breakup that would include a spin-off of Chrome, the world's most popular browser.

From BBC

And while their breakup appeared friendly at first, things took a sharp turn when Sudeikis served Wilde with custody documents while she was speaking onstage at CinemaCon in Las Vegas.

From MarketWatch

Related Words

• breakdown
• disintegration
• dissolution
• divorce
• separation
• split
• termination