26984 words

breaks

68 definitions • 119 examples
1
to (cause something to) separate suddenly or violently into two or more pieces, or to (cause something to) stop working by being damaged:

Examples:

break into pieces I dropped the vase and it broke into pieces.
break off I picked it up and the handle broke off.
The dish fell to the floor and broke.
Charles is always breaking things.
She fell and broke her arm (= broke the bone in her arm).
I think I've broken your phone.
We heard the sound of breaking glass.
2
to destroy or end something, or to come to an end:

Examples:

break a code The enemy were unable to break the code (= understand it and so make it useless).
She laughed and that broke the tension.
break a strike Outside workers were brought in in an attempt to break (= end) the strike.
3
to do something better than the best known speed, time, number, etc. previously achieved:

Examples:

She broke the record for the 5,000 metres.
4
to fail to keep a law, rule, or promise:

Examples:

break the law He didn't know he was breaking the law (= doing something illegal).
She broke her promise/word to me (= did not do what she promised she would).
5
to (cause something to) divide into two or more parts or groups:

Examples:

break (something) down These enzymes break down food in the stomach (= cause food to separate into smaller pieces).
I asked her to break her expenses down into food, travel and personal costs.
6
to interrupt or to stop something for a short period:

Examples:

We usually break for lunch at 12.30.
I needed something to break the monotony of my typing job.
The phone rang, breaking my concentration.
UK They decided to break their journey in Singapore.
7
to go somewhere or do something by force:

Examples:

break something down He threatened to break the door down (= enter using force).
break free The horse tried to break free from its stable.
break loose In the storm the boat broke loose from its moorings.
break something up The police broke up the fight (= ended it forcefully).
break something open The thieves broke the safe open and stole the diamonds.
She broke his grip and ran away.
8
to lose your confidence, determination, or ability to control yourself, or to make someone do this:

Examples:

break someone's will They tried to break his will (= make him lose his determination to fight or continue), but he resisted.
He thought she would break under the strain.
9
to become known or to make something become known:

Examples:

break a story It was the local newspaper that first broke the story (= told the public).
When the scandal broke (= came to the public's attention), the CEO resigned immediately.
10
(of waves) to reach and move over the beach, hit a cliff or wall, etc.:

Examples:

A huge wave broke against the rocks.
The wave broke over the boat and almost capsized it.
11
(of the weather) to change suddenly and usually become worse:

Examples:

The forecast is for the hot weather to break today.
12
(of a storm) to start suddenly:

Examples:

We arrived just as a storm was breaking.
13
When dawn or day breaks, the sun starts to appear in the sky early in the morning:

Examples:

Dawn broke over the city.
14
When a boy's voice breaks it begins to sound like a man's:

Examples:

His voice broke when he was 13.
15
If someone's voice breaks, it changes because of strong emotions:

Examples:

Her voice was breaking with emotion as she pleaded for her child's return.
16
(in tennis) to win a game in which another player is serving (= hitting the ball first):

Examples:

Nadal broke Čilić's serve in the second set.
17
If a team breaks, it gets the ball in its own half of the field or court and attacks quickly into the opposing team's half:

Examples:

The Blues broke down the left wing, catching Wolves on the back foot.
The key to a good counterattack is to break quickly.
18
to hit the white ball at the beginning of a game:

Examples:

Whose turn is it to break?
19
If a ball breaks, it moves from a straight line:

Examples:

This putt breaks from the left.
The pitch broke 30 centimetres to the right and deceived the batter.
20
to train a horse to be tame (= not wild or frightened of people, and safe around them) so that it can be ridden or used to pull a vehicle:

Examples:

It's more challenging to break a wild mustang than a typical domestic horse.
He worked as a cowhand and also broke horses.
21

Examples:

Finally there was a break in the rain and we went out.
22
the short period of advertisements between television programmes:

Examples:

I'll make us a cup of tea in the next break.
23
a short period of rest, when food or drink is sometimes eaten:

Examples:

take a break We'll take another break at 3.30.
a coffee break
UK a tea break
a lunch/dinner break
They worked through the night without a break.
Do you usually take a morning or afternoon break?
24
the regular time in the middle of the morning or afternoon, for school students to talk or play, and sometimes have food or drink:

Examples:

We were talking about it at break.
25
a time away from work or your regular activity, or a holiday:

Examples:

Take a couple of weeks off - you need a break.
How long is the Christmas break this year?
We decided to have a short winter break in Paris.
I'll read your report over (= during) the Christmas break.
I need a break from typing.
26
to allow someone some time away from their work or regular activities:

Examples:

I babysit every Friday to give her a break.
27
to stop criticizing or annoying someone, or behaving in an unpleasant way:

Examples:

Give her a break - she's only a child and she didn't mean any harm.
28

Examples:

big break Her big break came when she was offered a role in a Spielberg movie.
29
the way that things happen, usually when this is bad for you but you cannot do anything to change it:

Examples:

them's the breaks non-standard I was born a year too late to qualify, but them's the breaks.
Your pension has disappeared? That's the breaks.
30
a place where something has broken:

Examples:

There's a break in the pipe.
31
the end of a relationship, connection, or way of doing something:

Examples:

break with tradition Their decision to not name their daughter Jane was a break with family tradition.
32
to stop having a close relationship with someone, especially stop living with them, or to change a course of action that you have had for a long time:

Examples:

You've been in your job for years - it's time you made a break.
33
in tennis, a game won by the player who was not serving (= hitting the ball first):

Examples:

Murray must get another break to win.
34
in snooker and billiards, the number of points that a player gets during one turn at hitting the balls:

Examples:

He scored his third century break of the tournament.
35
in snooker and pool, hitting the white ball at the start of a game:

Examples:

Is it my break?
36
in team sports, an occasion when a defending team gains possession of the ball in its own half and attacks quickly into the opposing team's half:

Examples:

A dazzling break from in front of their own posts led to a try.
37
to escape from/towards somewhere or something, often by force:

Examples:

make a break for it When he let go of my arm, I made a break for it (= escaped quickly).
38
the time when the sun rises in the morning:

Examples:

at break of day We set out at break of day.
39
to separate something suddenly or violently into two or more pieces, or to stop working by being damaged:

Examples:

[ T ] I broke a glass in the kitchen and have to vacuum it up.
[ I ] Our toaster broke, so we have to get a new one.
[ M ] The police broke the door down to get into the apartment.
40
If you break a part of your body, you damage a bone which cracks or separates into pieces:

Examples:

[ T ] The top women’s downhill skier broke her leg in a freak collision.
41
If you break a bill of a particular amount of money, you exchange it for smaller bills whose total equals the amount of your bill:

Examples:

[ T ] Can you break a $50 bill for me?
42
to interrupt or to stop something for a brief period:

Examples:

[ I ] Let’s continue for another ten minutes and then break for lunch.
43
to end or change something, or to stop:

Examples:

[ I ] Cheryl found the habit of drinking a lot of coffee hard to break.
[ T ] She broke the record for the 5000 meters (= she did better than the record).
[ T ] They worked hard to break the deadlock in the negotiations.
44
to escape or separate from something or someone suddenly:

Examples:

[ I always + adv/prep ] The dog broke free and ran into traffic.
[ I always + adv/prep ] The handle on the teapot just broke off.
45
to fail to obey or follow a law, rule, or promise:

Examples:

He didn’t know he was breaking the law.
My daughter got sick and I had to break my appointment.
46
to become known or cause something to be known, usually to the public:

Examples:

[ T ] The newspaper reporters who broke the story won the Pulitzer prize.
[ I ] People wept when the news broke that the plant was closing for good.
47
(of a wave moving toward land) to suddenly change from a rising curl of water, sometimes showing white, to a layer that spreads out on reaching land
48

Examples:

Getting that first job was a lucky break.
49
a place in the surface of something where it has cracked from damage:

Examples:

A break in a water main caused a whole section of the city to flood.
50
A break in a bone is a place where it has cracked or separated into pieces.
51
an interruption, esp. in a regular activity, or a short period of rest when food or drink is sometimes eaten:

Examples:

a lunch/coffee break
a break in the heat wave
52
A break is also a time away from work or school, or a vacation:

Examples:

I went skiing in the mountains during spring break (= period in early spring when school classes temporarily stop).
53
a time early in the morning when the sun is rising:

Examples:

We set out at the break of day.
54
to do something that is against a law, or not do something that you should do or have promised to do:

Examples:

break the law He didn't know he was breaking the law when he gave her the information.
break a promise/agreement/contract
55
to bring something to an end, especially suddenly or forcefully:

Examples:

The company needs to break the spiral of borrowing and spending.
break a strike Outside workers were hired in an attempt to break the strike.
56

Examples:

break a barrier The company's market share had broken the 25% barrier for the first time.
break a record Yesterday Roger broke the record for monthly sales.
57
to exchange a large bill (= piece of paper money) for bills or coins in smaller amounts:

Examples:

Can you break a twenty for me, please?
58
to work very hard:

Examples:

He has been breaking his back to get the project finished on time.
59
to have no profit or loss at the end of a business activity because you only make enough money to pay for your costs:

Examples:

How many copies do we need to sell to break even?
After paying compensation for the damaged goods, we barely broke even.
60
to start building a new building, or to start being built:

Examples:

The new medical center is expected to break ground in May.
61
to do or discover something new:
62
to cost too much, or spend too much money:

Examples:

There are insurance policies available that will not break the bank.
There are ways of boosting a traditional business without breaking the bank.
63
a short period of rest, when food or drink is sometimes taken:

Examples:

a coffee/tea break
Where do you go in your lunch break?
have/take a break We'll work through till lunch but take a short break at 11 o'clock.
64
a time away from work or from a regular activity:

Examples:

the Christmas break
She resumed her career after a two-year break.
65
a short period when a radio or television programme is interrupted by announcements or advertisements:

Examples:

We'll be right back after the break.
66
a reduction in the amount that has to be paid for something:

Examples:

They are changing their pricing policy and offering small investors a big price break.
break on sth New customers will be given a break on maintenance fees.
67

Examples:

Her big break came when she was offered a major part in a new movie.
68

Examples:

Gold prices rallied again, a move which traders said could foreshadow another break above $400 an ounce.

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