infringement or violation, e.g. of a law, obligation, or standard
breach of contract
a gap, e.g. in a wall, made by battering
a break in customarily friendly relations
I attempted familiarities … which she repulsed with proper resentment … This made a breach between us — Benjamin Franklin
a leap, esp of a whale out of water
the sublime breach — Herman Melville
step into the breach
to replace somebody who has been prevented from doing a certain job, esp at short notice
[Old English bryce; related to break2]