verb | noun
breakbreak1 /breɪk/ ●●● S1 W1 verb (past tense broke /broʊk/, past participle broken /ˈbroʊkən/) 1
INTO PIECES [intransitive, transitive] if something breaks or you break it, it separates into two or more pieces, for example because it has been hit, dropped, or bent: Somebody broke the window and the car alarm went off. Careful, those glasses break easily.break off Part of it broke off when I touched it. The force of the explosion had broken the door in half.THESAURUSsmash – used when a plate, glass, etc. breaks or is broken with a lot of force: Angry crowds smashed windows downtown. The plate smashed when it hit the floor.shatter – used when a plate, glass, etc. breaks into a lot of small pieces: The bomb blast shattered the windows of cars and buildings. The mirror fell and shattered.crack – used when something begins to break in a way that makes a line on the surface: The glass was cracked, and water was leaking out.split – used when something breaks along a straight line: She swung the axe and split the log right down the middle.tear – used when paper or cloth separates into pieces: Tear the cloth into three long strips. My jeans tore when I climbed over the fence.snap – used about something hard and thin that breaks into two pieces, making a loud noise: A stick snapped under her feet.burst – used when a pipe with liquid inside it breaks: One of the pipes in the basement had burst.rupture – used when a container, wall, pipe, etc. breaks so that what it is holding comes out: The airplane’s fuel tank ruptured when it crashed.pop – used when a bubble or balloon breaks: A single balloon floated up into a tree and popped.fracture – used when a bone in your body cracks or breaks: She fractured her leg in a skiing accident.2BONES [transitive] if you break your leg, arm, etc. or break a bone, the bone splits into two or more pieces: Tanya went skiing and broke her leg.► see thesaurus at hurt13MACHINES [intransitive, transitive] to damage something such as a machine so that it does not work or cannot be used, or to become damaged in this way: How did you manage to break the microwave? I think the switch is broken. I dropped the camera and it broke.4RULES/LAWS to disobey a law or rule: Smith was kicked off the team for breaking team rules.► see thesaurus at disobey5PROMISE/AGREEMENT to not do what you have promised to do or signed an agreement to do: She accused the senator of breaking his promise to support her. You broke our agreement not to discuss the project publicly.6BAD SITUATION [transitive] to stop a bad or boring situation from continuing: We took turns driving, in order to try and break the monotony. The two sides are trying to break the deadlock in the treaty talks (=end a situation in which an agreement or a solution cannot be found).7SURFACE/SKIN [intransitive, transitive] if the surface of something breaks or if you break it, it splits or gets a hole in it: Do not use this product if the seal has been broken.8ACTIVITY [intransitive] to stop working for a short time in order to eat or drink something: We’ll break in an hour. What time do you want to break for lunch?9a)NEWS [intransitive, transitive] if news about an important event breaks, or if a newspaper, television station, etc. breaks it, they make it known to everyone: The next morning the news broke that the senator was dead. “The Washington Post” was the first to break the story. b)[transitive] to tell someone about something bad that has happened: I couldn’t break the news to Mom. The doctor finally broke it to me that there was no cure.10break a record to do something faster or better than it has ever been done before: Collins retired after she broke the world record. Sales of their new CD have broken all records (=been much better or much more successful than anything before).11break a/the habit to stop doing something that you have regularly done for a long time, especially something that is bad for you: I don’t smoke anymore, but it was hard to break the habit.12break even to neither make a profit nor lose money: Thankfully, we broke even in our first year in business.13break somebody’s heart to make someone very unhappy by ending a relationship with him or her or by doing something that he or she does not want you to do: It really broke his heart when she told him it was over. It’ll break your father’s heart if you tell him you’re quitting the team.14HOPE/DETERMINATION [intransitive, transitive] to lose hope, confidence, or determination, or to cause someone to do this, usually because of being under a lot of pressure: He didn’t break, even after several days of torture. The years of pressure and criticism finally broke him. Being kept away from her children for 15 years had not broken her spirit.15DAY [intransitive] if the day or the dawn breaks, light begins to show in the sky as the sun rises16WAVE [intransitive] if a wave breaks, the top part starts to fall down, usually because it is hitting or getting near the shore: Waves broke against the rocks.SPOKEN PHRASES17break your neck to hurt yourself very badly, especially by falling onto the ground: Careful here! I don’t want you slipping and breaking your neck.18you’re/it’s breaking my heart humorous used to show that you are not sad about something or do not have sympathy for someone, in a situation when you should: “I’ve had it with you! I’m leaving!” “You’re breaking my heart.”19break your back to work very hard to try and do something: We’ve been breaking our backs trying to get this project done on time.20break a leg! humorous used to wish someone good luck, especially someone who is acting in a play21break! used when telling boxers or wrestlers to stop fighting22break free a)to escape from an unpleasant situation or a situation that controls you in an unpleasant way: break of/from India wanted to break free of the British Empire. b) (also break loose) to escape from someone or somewhere by using force: The cattle had broken loose during the night.23break somebody’s fall to stop someone from falling straight onto the ground so that he or she is not badly hurt: Luckily some bushes at the bottom of the cliff broke his fall.24break somebody’s concentration (also break somebody’s train of thought) to interrupt someone and stop him or her from being able to continue thinking or talking about something: I never listen to music when I’m working – it breaks my concentration.25break the back of somebody/something to destroy someone or something's chances of succeeding: The arrests could break the back of organized crime in the entire state.26break a strike to force workers to end a strike27break the silence/calm to end a period of silence or calm by talking or making a noise: Rhonda’s laugh broke the silence.28break your silence to start talking about something in public after refusing to do so for a long time: Fifteen years later, Rowland broke his silence about the murder.29break the surface (of the water) if something breaks the surface of water, it moves from below the surface to a position in which part of it is sticking out of the water: The whale’s back broke the surface for a moment.30break the ice to do something or say something to make someone who you have just met be less nervous and more willing to talk, for example at a party or meeting: I tried to break the ice by offering her a drink, but she said “no.” → see also icebreaker (2)31break a sweat to begin sweating, especially because you are working or exercising hard32do something without breaking a sweat (also do something and not break a sweat) to do something easily: She can disarm the most complicated security systems without breaking a sweat.33it won’t break the bank used to say that you can afford to buy something: Well, I don’t think it’ll break the bank if we only go away for a weekend.34break ranks to behave differently from the other members of a group, who are expecting you to support them: Surprisingly, 9 of the 31 Republicans in the Assembly broke ranks to vote with the Democrats.35break fresh/new ground to do something completely new that no one has ever done before, or find out new information about a subject: With this agreement, the agency is breaking new ground in dealing with sex discrimination.36break your ties/connection/links etc. to end your connection or relationship with a person, group, organization, etc.: I broke all my ties with my father years ago.37VOICE [intransitive] a)if your voice breaks, it changes from one level to another suddenly, especially because of strong emotions: Her voice breaks as she talks about her missing children. b)when a boy’s voice breaks, it changes and becomes lower, like a man’s voice38STORM [intransitive] if a storm breaks, it suddenly begins: The storm finally broke just as I was getting out of the car.39WEATHER [intransitive] if the weather breaks, it suddenly changes: Farmers are anxious for the cold weather to break.40CODE [transitive] to succeed in understanding what the letters or numbers in a secret code mean: We’ve finally managed to break their secret code.41GAME [intransitive] to begin a game of pool, billiards, etc. by being the first one to hit the ball: I’ll let you break next game.42break cover to move out of a place where you have been hiding so that you can be seen: Suddenly, one of the elephants broke cover and charged straight at them.43break camp to pack tents and other equipment and leave the place where you have been camping44break wind formal to allow gas to escape from your bowels, making a noise and a bad smell SYN fart45break the bank to win more money in a game of cards than a casino or a dealer is able to pay you46break (somebody’s) serve to win a game in tennis when your opponent is serving (serve)[Origin: Old English brecan] → see also breakawaybreak away phrasal verb1to end your connection or relationship with a person, group, organization, etc. because of a disagreement: break away from During that time, Portugal’s colonies broke away from colonial rule.2to escape from someone who is holding you: break away from He tried to break away from the policeman who was holding him.3to escape from an unpleasant situation: This was her chance to break away and find happiness.4to move ahead of other people in a race or competition: Radcliffe broke away 2 miles before the end of the race.5to stop being attached to something: Part of the plane’s wing had broken away.break down phrasal verb1MACHINE if a large machine, especially a car, breaks down, it stops working: My car broke down on the way to work. The elevators in this building are always breaking down.2FAIL if a discussion, system, etc. breaks down, it fails or stops existing: The talks broke down completely in June 1982.3DOOR break something ↔ down to hit something, such as a door, so hard that it breaks and falls to the ground4STOP REFUSING/OPPOSING break (somebody ↔) down to stop opposing something or refusing to do something, or to force someone to stop doing this: I finally broke down and ate the chocolate anyway. They finally broke him down and made him talk.5CHANGE CHEMICALLY break something ↔ down if a substance breaks down or is broken down, it is reduced or changed, usually as a result of a chemical process: Glycogen is broken down to glucose in the liver.6CRY to be unable to stop yourself from crying, especially in public: Margaret broke down several times during the funeral.7CHANGE IDEAS break something ↔ down to change bad feelings that prevent people from having a good relationship with each other: No one has yet found a way to break down these prejudices. We’re trying to help break down the barriers between the ethnic groups.8BECOME SICK to become mentally or physically ill: If Tim keeps working this hard, he’ll break down sooner or later.9MAKE something SIMPLE break something ↔ down to divide something such as a job, report, plan, etc. into parts in order to make it easier to deal with or understand: break something down into something Try breaking the exam question down into three parts.10SPORTS break somebody/something ↔ down to succeed in gaining points in a game in sports: Seattle had no problem breaking down Dallas’s defense. → see also breakdown► see thesaurus at cry1break for something phrasal verb to go somewhere quickly, especially in order to escape from someone: He suddenly broke for the door.break in phrasal verb1 to enter a building by using force, in order to steal something: It looks like they broke in through that window. → see also break-in, breaking and entering2 break somebody/something ↔ in to make a person or animal get used to a certain way of behaving or working: They have a good training program for breaking in new employees.3 to interrupt a conversation or activity by saying or doing something: The operator broke in, saying, “You need another 75¢ to continue the call.”break in with TV news anchors periodically broke in with updates on the incident.break in on Sir, sorry to break in on your meeting, but your wife is outside.4break something ↔ in if you break new shoes or boots in, or if they break in, they become less stiff and more comfortable because you have been wearing thembreak into something phrasal verb1STEAL to enter a building by using force, in order to steal something: Someone broke into our house while we were on vacation.2NEW ACTIVITY to become involved in a new activity, especially a business activity: We think this product will help us to break into the Eastern European market.3break into a run/gallop/trot etc. to suddenly start running, etc.: The boy saw his father and broke into a run.4break into tears/laughter/cheers etc. to suddenly start crying, laughing, etc. → see also break into a sweat at sweat2 (7)5INTERRUPT to interrupt an activity by saying or doing something: Sorry to break into your lunch hour, but it’s an emergency.6MONEY to start to spend money that you did not want to spend: I was hoping we wouldn’t have to break into our savings.break somebody of something phrasal verb to make someone stop having a bad habit: a useful way of breaking your dog of barking at strangers Try to break yourself of the habit of eating between meals.break off phrasal verb1break something ↔ off to end a relationship, especially a political or romantic one: The U.S. is threatening to break off diplomatic relations with the country’s government. Did you hear? They’ve broken off their engagement.2break something ↔ off to break a piece from the main part of something, or to become broken from the main part of something: I pulled the door and the handle broke off. Can you break off a piece of that chocolate for me?3break something ↔ off to suddenly stop talking or having a discussion: She broke off, forgetting what she wanted to say. Without explanation, management broke off contract negotiations.break out phrasal verb1if something bad such as a fire, war, or disease breaks out, it begins to happen: War broke out six months later.2break out the... informal to bring something out so that it is ready to be used: If the Red Sox win tonight, we’ll break out the champagne.3break out of something to change the way you live or behave, especially because you feel bored: Once you break out of those old ways of thinking, you’ll feel better.break out of a rut/routine etc. (=stop doing the same things all the time)4to begin to have red spots on your skin, especially on your face: Chocolate makes me break out. That soap made me break out in a rash.5to escape from a prison or a similar place: break out of They were caught trying to break out of jail. → see also breakout1► see thesaurus at begin, escape1break through phrasal verb1break through something to force a way through something: Our troops finally managed to break through enemy lines.2break through something to deal successfully with something, especially unreasonable behavior or bad feelings: Somehow we managed to break through the racial prejudices and get people talking.3break through something if the sun or light breaks through, you begin to see it through something such as clouds or mist4 if a quality breaks through, it becomes noticeable: Occasionally his humor breaks through. → see also breakthroughbreak up phrasal verb1MARRIAGE/GROUP to end a marriage or romantic relationship, or to stop being together as a group: What year did the Beatles break up? Their marriage broke up years ago.break up with somebody I broke up with Liz yesterday. → see also breakup2INTO GROUPS/PARTS break something ↔ up to separate something into several smaller parts or groups: The state-owned gas company was broken up into six private companies. I usually break the students up into pairs to work.3INTO PIECES break something ↔ up to break into many small pieces, or to make something do this: Increased traffic of heavy trucks will break up local roads. The drug causes blood clots to break up.4FIGHT if a fight breaks up, or if someone breaks it up, the people stop fighting each other: The police came and the fight broke up. OK you guys, break it up!5CROWD break something ↔ up if a crowd or meeting breaks up or someone breaks it up, people start to leave: Force was used to break up the rally.6MAKE somebody LAUGH break somebody up informal to say or do something that is so funny that people cannot stop laughing: His comment about football players broke everyone up.break with somebody/something phrasal verb1to leave a group of people or an organization, especially because you have had a disagreement with them: Yugoslavia under Tito soon broke with Stalin’s Russia.2break with tradition (also break with the past) to stop following old customs and do something in a completely different way verb | noun
breakbreak2 ●●● S1 W2 noun 1A REST a)[countable] a period of time when you stop what you are doing in order to rest, eat, etc.: a ten-minute break I’ve been working since nine o’clock without a break.coffee/lunch break When is your lunch break? At 11, the band took a break. b)[countable] a short vacation: We needed a break, so we went up to the mountains for a few days.Thanksgiving/Spring/Christmas etc. break (=the public or school holidays at Thanksgiving, etc.)► see thesaurus at vacation12A PAUSE IN something [countable] a)a period of time during which something stops, before continuing again: There was a break of two years between his last book and this one.break in Elaine took a six-month break in her studies.break from We’re having a break from our regular classroom work today. b)a pause in a conversation or in what someone is saying: break in an awkward break in the conversation c) (also commercial break) a pause for advertisements during a television or radio program: We’ll be right back after the break.3give somebody a break spoken said when you want someone to stop annoying, criticizing, or being mean to you or someone else: Give him a break, you guys. He’s just learning.4give me a break spoken said when you do not believe something someone has just said or think that it was stupid: “I think he’s really sorry for what he said.” “Oh, give me a break!”5A CHANCE [countable] informal a sudden or unexpected chance to do something, especially to be successful in your job: young musicians looking for their first breaka big/lucky break The band’s big break came when they sang on a local TV show.6CHANGE [countable usually singular] an occasion when one thing ends and something new or different begins: break from a break from our company’s usual manufacturing practicesbreak with a major break with the policies of the past 35 years In a break with tradition, the city council decided not to have a parade. Why argue about the terms of the divorce when both of you just want a clean break (=a very clear and definite end to a relationship)?7a break in the weather a change in the weather, usually from bad to good weather: We stayed in the tent, hoping for a break in the weather.8make a break for something to suddenly start running toward something in order to escape from a place: As soon as the guard turned around, they made a break for the door. After the police fired tear gas, one hostage made a break for it (=tried to escape).9A SPACE [countable] a space between two things or between two parts of something: a continuous line without any breaksbreak in Occasionally you could see the moon through a break in the clouds.10BONES [countable] the place where a bone in your body has broken: The break has not healed correctly.► see thesaurus at injury11the break of day literary the time early in the morning when it starts getting light12a break in somebody’s voice an unsteady quality in someone’s voice that shows he or she is upset13TENNIS (also break of serve) [countable] a situation in a game of tennis in which you win a game when your opponent is serving (serve) → see also break point14POINTS [countable] the number of points won by a player when it is their turn to hit the ball in a game such as billiards