Definition of break - Reverso English Dictionary
Verb
1.
physicaltr./intr. separate into pieces by forcetr./intr.
- He broke the stick in half.
2.
malfunctiontr./intr. cause to stop functioningtr./intr.
- The computer broke after the power surge.
3.
violationtr. fail to observe a law or agreementtr.
- He did not break the contract deliberately..
4.
interruptiontr. end a silence or pausetr.
- He broke the silence with a loud laugh.
5.
sportstr. surpass a previous recordtr.
- She broke the world record in swimming.
6.
disclosuretr. make known or publictr.
- The journalist broke the news about the scandal.
7.
emotiontr. cause to lose spirit or willtr.
- The harsh conditions broke the soldiers' spirits.
8.
suddenintr. begin or end suddenlyintr.
- The storm broke after days of calm.
9.
movementintr. change direction suddenlyintr.
- The horse broke to the left unexpectedly.
10.
cryptographytr. TECH. decrypt or solve a codetr. TECH.
- They managed to break the enemy's code..
11.
animaltr. Rare tame or train an animaltr. Rare
- It took months to break the wild horse..
Noun
1.
timeinterruption or pause in continuity
- There was a short break in the meeting to allow everyone to refresh..
2.
vacationUK short holiday or vacationUK
- They went on a weekend break to the mountains.
3.
fractureinstance of something separating into pieces
- The break in the vase was clearly visible.
4.
objectgap or opening in something
- There was a break in the fence allowing the dog to escape.
5.
- He got his big break in the film industry.
6.
escapeact of escaping from confinement
- The prisoners planned a break from the jail.
7.
tennisTECH. game won by the receiving player in tennisTECH.
- She secured a break in the final set.
8.
sportsTECH. first shot in a game of billiards or poolTECH.
- He made a perfect break in the pool game.
Images of break
instance of something separating into pieces
Expressions with break
💡 Discover popular phrases, idioms, collocations, or phrasal verbs. Click any expression to learn more, listen to its pronunciation, or save it to your favorites.
stop working or functioning
The car broke down on the highway.
remove a piece from a whole by force
He decided to break off a branch.
separate into smaller parts or pieces
The ice will break up in spring.
escape from physical confinement or captivity
The prisoner tried to break free from the cell.
not keep a commitment
She broke her promise to call every week.
cause serious injury to someone's neck by force
The villain tried to break the hero's neck during the fight.
pause an activity for a short rest or mental refreshment
Let's take a break and get some fresh air.
end a romantic relationship causing sadness
He broke her heart when he left.
create a new physical trail or route
The hikers decided to break a new path through the forest.
destroy physical walls in a building or structure
They decided to break down the walls to expand the room.
enter by force
Thieves break in by smashing a window..
short period of better weather
We went hiking during a break in the weather.
enter a place illegally by force
The thief tried to break into the house.
end a romantic relationship with someone
She decided to break it off with him.
divide something into smaller parts
Let's break it up into smaller groups.
prevent someone from falling
She reached out to break his fall.
cause someone to feel great sadness
The news of his departure will break her heart.
fail to keep a promise or commitment
He broke his word and didn't show up.
develop pimples or a rash
She tends to break out when stressed.
stop or reduce the force when someone is falling
He used his arms to break her fall.
cause deep emotional pain to someone
She broke his heart when she left him.
cause injury that fractures another person’s leg bone
The reckless tackle nearly broke his leg during the game.
surpass a previously set achievement or performance level
She broke the world record in swimming.
introduce conversation to ease tension
She asked about the weather to break the ice.
Origin of break
Old English, brecan (to break)
Terms with break included in their meaning
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weekly break
period from Friday evening through Sunday
physical break
thin line or space in a solid surface
school break
time when students don't attend school
break
temporary stop or rest in activity
rest
take a break from work or stress
damage
hole or break in material
school break
break when schools or universities are closed
physical popping
cause a soap or air bubble to break and disappear
recreation
take a break from indoor activities
vacation
taking a break from work or duties
not working
taking a break from work or school for rest or travel
explode
break open suddenly and violently
games
break rules to gain advantage
cutting
cut or break a small piece off something
physical structure
break apart and fall down suddenly
physical harm
break or spoil something physically
activity
the act of taking a break to relax or recover
school
at the time when students return to their school after a break
physical
break into pieces or fragments
cooking
break the shell of an egg
fragmentation
break into smaller pieces
interrupt talk
interrupt or break into a conversation or activity abruptly
continuously
going on without a break or pause
condition
break into pieces due to weakness or damage
Examples of break in a sentence
The machine broke the rock into small pieces. She managed to break the old radio. The phone might break if you drop it. She didn't mean to break the rules. They decided to break the agreement. She broke the awkward pause with a question.
The tension was broken by his sudden comment. He aims to break the national record in running. The athlete trained hard to break the previous record. They broke the story on the evening news. The company broke the announcement to the public. The constant failures began to break his resolve. Her spirit was broken by the relentless criticism. A fire broke out just after midnight. When the applause broke, the speaker began again. The car broke sharply to avoid the obstacle. She broke right to dodge the defender. The team worked tirelessly to break the complex cipher. Can you break this encrypted message? She managed to break the colt in just a few weeks. They hired a professional to break the stubborn mule. We took a break after two hours of work. She needed a break from her daily routine. She took a short break to visit her family. A break in the city was just what they needed. The break in the bone required immediate medical attention. There was a break in the chain that needed fixing. Sunlight streamed through a break in the clouds. The wall has a break near the corner. She finally got her break in the music industry. Winning the contest was his break into modeling. The guard foiled their break before dawn. His break from custody made national news. He managed a break early in the match. The player celebrated a crucial break point. The break determined the pace of the match. His break was strong, scattering the balls widely.
View all translations of break
Click below to see the appropriate translations facing each meaning.
- French:casser, interruption, ...
- German:brechen, Pause, ...
- Italian:rompere, sosta, ...
- Spanish:romper, descanso, ...
- Portuguese:partir, pausa, ...
- Chinese:折断, 休息, ...
- Japanese:折る, 休憩, ...
- Arabic:كَسَرَ, استراحة, ...
- Hebrew:לִשְׁבּוֹר, הַפְסָקָה, ...
- Russian:сломать, перерыв, ...
- Ukrainian:ламати, перерва, ...
- Hindi:तोड़ना, विराम, ...
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