to separate or become separated into two or more piecesthis cup is broken
to damage or become damaged so as to be inoperativemy radio is broken
to crack or become cracked without separating
to burst or cut the surface of (skin, etc)
to discontinue or become discontinuedthey broke for lunch; to break a journey
to disperse or become dispersedthe clouds broke
(tr) to fail to observe (an agreement, promise, law, etc)to break one's word
(foll by with) to discontinue an association (with)
to disclose or be disclosedhe broke the news gently
(tr) to fracture (a bone) in (a limb, etc)
(tr) to divide (something complete or perfect)to break a set of books
to bring or come to an endthe summer weather broke at last
(tr) to bring to an end by or as if by forceto break a strike
(when intr , often foll by out) to escape (from)he broke jail; he broke out of jail
to weaken or overwhelm or be weakened or overwhelmed, as in spirit
(tr) to cut through or penetratea cry broke the silence
(tr) to improve on or surpassto break a record
(tr often foll by in) to accustom (a horse) to the bridle and saddle, to being ridden, etc
(tr often foll by of) to cause (a person) to give up (a habit)this cure will break you of smoking
(tr) to weaken the impact or force ofthis net will break his fall
(tr) to decipherto break a code
(tr) to lose the order ofto break ranks
(tr) to reduce to poverty or the state of bankruptcy
(when intr , foll by into) to obtain, give, or receive smaller units in exchange for; changeto break a pound note
(tr) mainly military to demote to a lower rank
(intr ; often foll by from or out of) to proceed suddenly
(intr) to come into beinglight broke over the mountains
(intr ; foll by into or out into) - to burst into song, laughter, etc
- to change to a faster pace
(tr) to open with explosivesto break a safe
(intr) (of waves) - (often foll by against)to strike violently
- to collapse into foam or surf
(intr) (esp of fish) to appear above the surface of the water
(intr) (of the amniotic fluid surrounding an unborn baby) to be released when the amniotic sac ruptures in the first stage of labourher waters have broken
(intr) informal, mainly US to turn out in a specified mannerthings are breaking well
(intr) (of prices, esp stock exchange quotations) to fall sharply
(intr) to make a sudden effort, as in running, horse racing, etc
(intr) cricket (of a ball) to change direction on bouncing
(tr) cricket (of a player) to knock down at least one bail from (a wicket)
(intr) billiards snooker to scatter the balls at the start of a game
(intr) horse racing to commence running in a racethey broke even
(intr) boxing wrestling (of two fighters) to separate from a clinch
(intr) music - (of the male voice) to undergo a change in register, quality, and range at puberty
- (of the voice or some instruments) to undergo a change in tone, quality, etc, when changing registers
(intr) phonetics (of a vowel) to turn into a diphthong, esp as a development in the language
(tr) to open the breech of (certain firearms) by snapping the barrel away from the butt on its hinge
(tr) to interrupt the flow of current in (an electrical circuit)Compare make 1 (def. 27) (intr) informal, mainly US to become successful; make a breakthrough
break bread - to eat a meal, esp with others
- Christianityto administer or participate in Holy Communion
break camp to pack up equipment and leave a camp
break ground or break new ground to do something that has not been done before
to overwork or work very hard
break the back of to complete the greatest or hardest part of (a task)
break the bank to ruin financially or deplete the resources of a bank (as in gambling)
break the ice - to relieve shyness or reserve, esp between strangers
- to be the first of a group to do something
break the mould to make a change that breaks an established habit, pattern, etc
break service tennis to win a game in which an opponent is serving
break wind to emit wind from the anus
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