Break

/bɹˈe‌ɪk/

/ˈbɹeɪk/

to break

VERB

to separate something into more pieces, often in a sudden way

1.1

to become damaged and separated into pieces because of a blow, shock, etc.

Example

The tree branch broke during the heavy storm.

The mirror broke when it fell off the wall.

The toy car broke after it collided with the wall.

The chair legs couldn't support his weight and broke.

to manage to get away from captivity

to cause a crack and a separation in one of the bones of the body

to fail to obey the law

(of a piece of equipment) to become inoperative or unusable

to end or interrupt something, particularly a sentence, remark, or course of action

6.1

to put a temporary halt to something, particularly in order to have a drink or eat something

6.2

to try to lessen the force or impact of a fall

6.3

to excel in doing something compared to anyone else who has ever tried it

6.4

to do one's best to make a habit go away

to make someone emotionally devastated to the point that they consider returning to their normal life almost impossible

7.1

to negate a strike, particularly by replacing the striking workers

7.2

to make someone confess, submit, or obey, particularly by hitting or torturing them

7.3

to weaken someone or something in order to destroy them

(of a boy's voice at the age of 13 or older) to become permanently deeper

8.1

(of a person's voice) to change in tone due to going through intense emotion

Example

The conference will break for a networking session in the afternoon.

We'll break for a coffee after this meeting.

Shall we break for a moment to grab some refreshments?

We'll break briefly and then get back to work.

The team decided to break for a snack during their long hike.

to unravel the secret or find the meaning behind something

(of news) to be released or made known to the public

10.1

to tell someone some important news, often bad news

Example

His voice broke as he spoke about the loss of his beloved pet.

Her voice broke as she described the accident.

Her voice broke with sadness when she heard the news.

During the emotional farewell, his voice broke as he said goodbye.

Her voice broke with relief when she found her missing wallet.

(of wrestlers or boxers) to let go of or come out of a grappling position, particularly when asked by the referee

to cut through the surface level of the skin and cause bleeding

to make a set become incomplete, particularly by taking or destroying one of its parts

to exchange a sum of money for the same amount but in smaller bills or coins

(primarily in the game of billiards, snooker, or pool) to be the first player who strikes at the beginning of a game

to rise through the surface of sea, pool, etc.

(of weather conditions) to experience a drastic change, particularly after a period of stability

17.1

(of waves of water) to fall or be dissolved into foam, particularly on the shoreline

17.2

(of a day, dawn, or a storm) to begin

17.3

(of clouds) to clear out or show an opening

to use force in order to open something secure such as a safe

Break

NOUN

a rest from the work or activity we usually do

a fracture in a hard tissue, such as bone

What is a "break"?

A break, in the context of a noun, refers to a fracture or crack in hard tissue, like bone, typically caused by injury or underlying medical conditions. It involves the separation or disruption of the bone structure, often resulting in pain, swelling, and loss of function in the affected area. Healing a break usually requires medical attention, which may involve casting or surgery depending on the seriousness of the injury. Proper treatment and recovery are essential for restoring function and preventing complications in the affected bone.

some abrupt occurrence that interrupts an ongoing activity

an unexpected fortunate event, particularly one that leads to success