breaking and enteringˌbreaking and ˈentering noun [uncountable] law 
Examples
ExamplesEXAMPLES FROM THE CORPUS
Thesaurus- Four years later in Birmingham, he was arrested for breaking and entering.
- Groceries in hand, I crossed the threshold and moved into the entering phase of breaking and entering.
- In 1948 he was found guilty of breaking and entering.
- In all my years on newspapers, I've never gone as far as breaking and entering.
Longman Language Activatorto enter a place illegally or by using force► enter
the crime of entering a building illegally and by force · A man was arrested for trying to enter the actress's Beverly Hills home.enter through/by etc · It appears the burglars entered through a back window.
► get in to succeed in entering a room, building, or area which is locked or difficult to enter, especially by using force or by finding an unusual way in: · How did you get in? I thought the door was locked.· Some animals hadn't gotten in the shed and made a mess.get into something: · Thieves had apparently got into the apartments by posing as electricians.
► break in to enter a building by using force, in order to steal something: · If anyone tries to break in, the alarm will go off.break into something: · Thieves broke into the gallery and made off with paintings valued at over $2 million.
► gain entry/gain access if someone, especially criminals or the police gain entry or gain access , they succeed in entering a locked building or room, especially by using force: · The police gained entry by smashing down the door.gain entry/gain access to: · Somehow the woman had gained access to his dressing room and was waiting there when he came off the stage.
► force your way in to enter a building or room by using force, especially when someone is trying to stop you: · They've blocked the door. We'll have to force our way in.force your way into something: · Police eventually forced their way into the building and arrested the gunman.
► breaking and entering the crime of entering a place illegally, especially with the intention of stealing something: · You can't just go into his apartment when he's not there - that's breaking and entering.· He was caught in the school at night and has been charged with breaking and entering.
► trespass to illegally enter or be on someone's land or in a building without permission from the owner: · Get out of the yard! Can't you see the sign? It says "No Trespassing."trespass on: · Carlson was fined $1000 for trespassing on government property.
► penetrate to enter an area that is well guarded or dangerous to enter - used especially in a military context: · The barbed wire fences and security shields made the air base very difficult to penetrate.
WORD SETS► Crimeabet, verbaccusation, nounaccuse, verbaffray, nounarson, nounassault, nounassault and battery, nounbackhander, nounbattery, nounbigamy, nounblack market, nounblack marketeer, nounbreak-in, nounbreaking and entering, nouncaper, nouncapital, adjectivecarjacking, nouncat burglar, nouncontract, nouncosh, nouncounterfeit, adjectivecounterfeit, verbcover, nouncrack, verbcriminal, adjectivecriminal, nouncriminal law, nouncriminal record, nouncriminology, nouncrook, nounculpable, adjectiveculprit, noundefamation, noundefraud, verbdelinquency, noundelinquent, adjectivedelinquent, noundesperado, noundisorderly, adjectivedrug baron, noundrug runner, nounDUI, nounembezzle, verbexpropriate, verbextort, verbeyewitness, nounfelon, nounfelony, nounfence, nounfiddle, nounfiddle, verbfiddler, nounfilch, verbfinger, verbfire-raising, nounfirst offender, nounflash, verbflasher, nounforge, verbforger, nounforgery, nounfoul play, nounframe, verbframe-up, nounfratricide, nounfraud, nounfreebooter, noungang, noungang-bang, noungang rape, noungangster, nounGBH, noungenocide, noungetaway, noungodfather, noungrand larceny, noungrass, noungrievous bodily harm, nounheist, nounhijack, verbhijack, nounhijacking, nounhit, nounhit-and-run, adjectivehit man, nounincriminate, verbindecent assault, nounindecent exposure, nouninfanticide, nounjob, nounjoyriding, nounjuvenile delinquent, nounkidnap, verblarceny, nounlibel, nounlibel, verblibellous, adjectivelow life, nounmafioso, nounmalpractice, nounmanslaughter, nounmassacre, nounmassacre, verbmatricide, nounmisappropriate, verbmisconduct, nounmisdeed, nounmisdemeanour, nounmobster, nounmoll, nounmug, verbmugshot, nounmurder, nounmurder, verbmurderer, nounmurderess, nounmuscleman, nounnark, nounnefarious, adjectiveneighbourhood watch, nounnick, verbno-go area, nounoffence, nounoffend, verboffender, nounold lag, nounorganized crime, nounoutlaw, nounparricide, nounpatricide, nounpetty larceny, nounPhotofit, nounpiracy, nounplant, verbpoach, verbpoacher, nounpossession, nounprivateer, nounprotection, nounprowl, verbprowler, nounpublic nuisance, nounpull, verbpunk, nounpurloin, verbraid, nounram-raiding, nounrape, verbrape, nounrapist, nounravish, verbreceiver, nounreceiving, nounrecidivist, nounregicide, nounring, nounringleader, nounriotous, adjectiverob, verbrobber, nounrobbery, nounroll, verbrustler, nounscheme, nounscheme, verbshady, adjectiveshoplift, verbshoplifting, nounslander, nounsmuggle, verbsnout, nounspeeding, nounstabbing, nounstalking, nounstatutory offence, nounstatutory rape, nounsteal, verbstoolpigeon, nounsupergrass, nounsuspect, nounswag, nountheft, nounthief, nounthievish, adjectivetorch, verbtraffic, nountrafficker, nountriad, noununder-the-counter, adjectiveunderworld, nounundesirable, nounvagrancy, nounvandal, nounvandalism, nounvandalize, verbvice, nounvigilante, nounvillainy, nounviolate, verbviolation, nounwanted, adjective