to damage (something) by causing it to separate into pieces with suddenness or violence
to damage (a machine, etc) and stop it working
to fracture (a limb, etc)
to rupture (a surface)
to split (something) or divide it into smaller units, parts, or processes
in battle, to cause (drawn-up lines) to scatter
to fail to observe (a rule or law), esp deliberately
to fail to keep or abide by (a promise, agreement, or contract); = breach2
to defeat (an opponent or enemy) decisively
(also + to) to train (an animal, esp a horse) to adjust to the service or convenience of human beings
to crush the spirit of (a person)
to exhaust (somebody) in health, strength, or capacity
to ruin (somebody) financially
to reduce (somebody) in rank, or cashier them
to reduce the force or impact of (a fall)
to take measures to make (a strike) fail, e.g. by using alternative labour
to resolve (a deadlock)
to end (a fast) by eating
to interrupt (a journey) by stopping for a rest or a meal
to interrupt (somebody's train of thought), so that continuity is lost
to interrupt (a silence) with a sound
to open (an electric circuit) so that operation is suspended
to destroy the unity or completeness of (a collection)
We're auctioning the spoons as a unit, so as not to break the set
to interrupt the uniformity of (something)
A chimney breaks the line of the roof
to exceed or surpass (a record)
said of a golfer: to score less than (a specified total)
to run a race in less than (a specified time)
said of the player receiving service in tennis: to get the better of (one's opponent's serve) by winning the game
to demonstrate the falsity of (an alibi or excuse)
to solve or discover the principles of (a code or cipher system)
to cause (somebody) to discontinue a habit
how to break yourself of the smoking habit
to make (news, etc) known to people
to come apart or split into pieces; to burst or shatter
said of a machine, etc: to stop working as a result of damage or wear
to fold, bend, lift, or come apart at a seam, groove, or joint
said of a wave: to curl over and disintegrate in surf or foam, against a rock or on a beach
said of the day: to dawn
said of a storm: to develop suddenly, with thunder, lightning, and rain
said of weather: to change, esp suddenly after a settled period
said of a line of troops: to give way in disorderly retreat
said of a person's health or spirit: to fail under pressure
(often + from) to escape with sudden forceful effort
He broke from his captors
(often + from) to work loose and become detached
The boat broke from its moorings
said of the fluid or ‘waters’ surrounding an unborn baby: to be released from the amnion (membrane enclosing the baby) as it ruptures during labour
(often + off) to make the opening shot of a game of snooker, billiards, or pool
said of a ball bowled in cricket: to change direction on bouncing
said of boxers: to separate after a clinch
said of news: to become known or made public
said of a fish, esp a trout or salmon: to emerge through the surface of the water
to make a sudden dash for cover
said of the voice or the sound of a wind instrument: to alter sharply in tone, pitch, or intensity; to shift abruptly from one register to another
said of a boy's voice: to deepen at puberty
said of a horse: to fail to keep moving in the desired manner, e.g. by reverting to trotting when cantering
to interrupt one's work or activity for a brief period
said of cream: to separate during churning into liquid and fat
chiefly NAmer to happen or develop
For the team to succeed, everything has to break right
informal said to somebody about to perform: best of luck!
[from the superstition that to wish somebody good luck invites misfortune]to take tents down and leave
said of a person or animal on the run: to emerge from concealment
to recoup one's initial outlay or investment but no more
to start (an activity) with vigour
The horse broke into a gallop
said of a person or a person's face: to relax into (a smile, etc)
to contrive to enter (a certain area of activity)
to interrupt (a conversation, etc)
to escape from prison
to escape
to try something new; to make an innovation
said of a batsman in cricket: to score for the first time
to fail to keep one's promise
to open (something) forcibly
said of troops drawn up in line: to move out of formation
in tennis, to win a game against the server
to cause somebody deep hurt or sorrow
said of marching troops: to stop marching in step
to complete the most arduous part of a task
often humorous to cause financial ruin
to do or say something that overcomes the initial reserve of a group
[from the physical breaking up of the frozen surface of a sea or river to make a passage for a ship to pass through]to release intestinal gas from the anus
to do something different from (a custom or tradition)
to end a relationship with (a partner or friend) after a quarrel, etc