noun. some abrupt occurrence that interrupts an ongoing activity the telephone is an annoying interruption|there was a break in the action when a player was hurt |
noun. an unexpected piece of good luck he finally got his big break |
noun. (geology) a crack in the earth's crust resulting from the displacement of one side with respect to the other they built it right over a geological fault|he studied the faulting of the earth's crust |
noun. a personal or social separation (as between opposing factions) they hoped to avoid a break in relations |
noun. a pause from doing something (as work) we took a 10-minute break|he took time out to recuperate |
noun. the act of breaking something the breakage was unavoidable |
noun. a time interval during which there is a temporary cessation of something |
noun. breaking of hard tissue such as bone it was a nasty fracture|the break seems to have been caused by a fall |
noun. the occurrence of breaking the break in the dam threatened the valley |
noun. an abrupt change in the tone or register of the voice (as at puberty or due to emotion) then there was a break in her voice |
noun. the opening shot that scatters the balls in billiards or pool |
noun. (tennis) a score consisting of winning a game when your opponent was serving he was up two breaks in the second set |
noun. an act of delaying or interrupting the continuity it was presented without commercial breaks|there was a gap in his account |
noun. a sudden dash he made a break for the open door |
noun. any frame in which a bowler fails to make a strike or spare the break in the eighth frame cost him the match |
noun. an escape from jail the breakout was carefully planned |
verb. terminate She interrupted her pregnancy|break a lucky streak|break the cycle of poverty |
verb. become separated into pieces or fragments The figurine broke|The freshly baked loaf fell apart |
verb. render inoperable or ineffective You broke the alarm clock when you took it apart! |
verb. ruin completely He busted my radio! |
verb. destroy the integrity of; usually by force; cause to separate into pieces or fragments He broke the glass plate|She broke the match |
verb. act in disregard of laws, rules, contracts, or promises offend all laws of humanity|violate the basic laws or human civilization|break a law|break a promise |
verb. move away or escape suddenly The horses broke from the stable|Three inmates broke jail|Nobody can break out--this prison is high security |
verb. scatter or part The clouds broke after the heavy downpour |
verb. force out or release suddenly and often violently something pent up break into tears|erupt in anger |
verb. prevent completion stop the project|break off the negotiations |
verb. enter someone's (virtual or real) property in an unauthorized manner, usually with the intent to steal or commit a violent act Someone broke in while I was on vacation|They broke into my car and stole my radio!|who broke into my account last night? |
verb. make submissive, obedient, or useful The horse was tough to break|I broke in the new intern |
verb. fail to agree with; be in violation of; as of rules or patterns This sentence violates the rules of syntax |
verb. surpass in excellence She bettered her own record|break a record |
verb. make known to the public information that was previously known only to a few people or that was meant to be kept a secret The auction house would not disclose the price at which the van Gogh had sold|The actress won't reveal how old she is|bring out the truth|he broke the news to her|unwrap the evidence in the murder case|The newspaper uncovered the President's illegal dealings Synonym: unwrap, uncover, reveal, let out, let on, give away, expose, divulge, discover, disclose, bring out |
verb. come into being light broke over the horizon|Voices broke in the air |
verb. stop operating or functioning The engine finally went|The car died on the road|The bus we travelled in broke down on the way to town|The coffee maker broke|The engine failed on the way to town|her eyesight went after the accident |
verb. interrupt a continued activity She had broken with the traditional patterns |
verb. make a rupture in the ranks of the enemy or one's own by quitting or fleeing The ranks broke |
verb. curl over and fall apart in surf or foam, of waves The surf broke |
verb. lessen in force or effect soften a shock|break a fall |
verb. be broken in If the new teacher won't break, we'll add some stress |
verb. come to an end The heat wave finally broke yesterday |
verb. vary or interrupt a uniformity or continuity The flat plain was broken by tall mesas |
verb. cause to give up a habit She finally broke herself of smoking cigarettes |
verb. give up break cigarette smoking |
verb. come forth or begin from a state of latency The first winter storm broke over New York |
verb. happen or take place Things have been breaking pretty well for us in the past few months |
verb. cause the failure or ruin of His peccadilloes finally broke his marriage|This play will either make or break the playwright |
verb. invalidate by judicial action The will was broken |
verb. discontinue an association or relation; go different ways The business partners broke over a tax question|The couple separated after 25 years of marriage|My friend and I split up |
verb. assign to a lower position; reduce in rank She was demoted because she always speaks up|He was broken down to Sergeant |
verb. reduce to bankruptcy My daughter's fancy wedding is going to break me!|The slump in the financial markets smashed him |
verb. change directions suddenly |
verb. emerge from the surface of a body of water The whales broke |
verb. break down, literally or metaphorically The wall collapsed|The business collapsed|The dam broke|The roof collapsed|The wall gave in|The roof finally gave under the weight of the ice |
verb. do a break dance Kids were break-dancing at the street corner |
verb. exchange for smaller units of money I had to break a $100 bill just to buy the candy |
verb. destroy the completeness of a set of related items The book dealer would not break the set |
verb. make the opening shot that scatters the balls |
verb. separate from a clinch, in boxing The referee broke the boxers |
verb. go to pieces The lawn mower finally broke|The gears wore out|The old chair finally fell apart completely |
verb. break a piece from a whole break a branch from a tree |
verb. become punctured or penetrated The skin broke |
verb. pierce or penetrate The blade broke her skin |
verb. be released or become known; of news News of her death broke in the morning |
verb. cease an action temporarily We pause for station identification|let's break for lunch |
verb. interrupt the flow of current in break a circuit |
verb. undergo breaking The simple vowels broke in many Germanic languages |
verb. find a flaw in break an alibi|break down a proof |
verb. find the solution or key to break the code |
verb. change suddenly from one tone quality or register to another Her voice broke to a whisper when she started to talk about her children |
verb. happen Report the news as it develops|These political movements recrudesce from time to time |
verb. become fractured; break or crack on the surface only The glass cracked when it was heated |
verb. crack; of the male voice in puberty his voice is breaking--he should no longer sing in the choir |
verb. fall sharply stock prices broke |
verb. fracture a bone of I broke my foot while playing hockey |
verb. diminish or discontinue abruptly The patient's fever broke last night |
verb. weaken or destroy in spirit or body His resistance was broken|a man broken by the terrible experience of near-death |
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