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Definition break in British English

break verb

verb
/breɪk/
1

to make something separate into two or more pieces, for example by hitting or dropping it

Example

People were throwing stones and several windows were broken.

Example

Break the spaghetti in half and put it into the boiling water.

Synonyms and related words
break fall apart shatter
1.1

if something breaks, it becomes damaged and separates into pieces

Example

Shake the snow off the branches to prevent them from breaking.

Example

The glass slipped from her hand and broke into a dozen pieces.

Synonyms and related words
break fall apart shatter
1.2

if a bone in your body breaks, or if you break it, it cracks or separates into two pieces

Example

She broke her leg playing football.

Example

Older bones tend to break more easily.

Synonyms and related words
injure harm wound
1.3

if a piece of equipment breaks, or if you break it, it stops working correctly because a part of it is damaged

Example

We used to have a toaster, but it broke.

Example

Don't play with the camera - you'll break it.

Synonyms and related words
break brick cannibalise break down go off shut off
2

to fail to obey a rule or law

Example

If you break the speed limit, the penalties are severe.

Example

I don't care what your reasons are. The fact is you're breaking the law.

Synonyms and related words
cross a line break defy
2.1

to not do something that you promised or agreed to do

Example

They have started drilling for oil in the region, breaking an agreement made five years ago.

Example

Elliot claims that his business partner broke her contract.

Synonyms and related words
break go back on renege
3

to make a hole or cut in the surface of something

Example

The dog bit his leg, but fortunately didn't break the skin.

Example

Every so often a fish broke the still surface of the lake.

Synonyms and related words
break fall apart shatter
Example

a campaign of violence and intimidation, that eventually broke the opposition's will

Example

Twenty years in prison had not broken his spirit.

Synonyms and related words
disappoint let down discourage
4.1

to lose your determination or confidence, especially when someone is deliberately trying to make this happen

Example

She didn't break, even under hours of intense interrogation.

Synonyms and related words
give up on despair darken
5

if important news breaks, it becomes publicly known

Example

He was back in France when the news broke.

Example

For some days after the scandal broke, the press could find out nothing about him.

Synonyms and related words
come out get around leak out
5.1

to publish or broadcast a news story for the first time

Example

The Daily Mirror broke the story on Christmas Eve.

Synonyms and related words
self-publish publish print broadcast report give out
5.2

to tell someone bad news in a kind way

Example

I didn't know how to break it to her.

Synonyms and related words
tell deliver report
6

to stop what you are doing for a short period of time

Example

Why don't we break now and meet again tomorrow?

Example

OK, let's break for lunch.

Synonyms and related words
stop break off give up
Example

Everyone must work together to break the cycle of violence.

Example

Their goal was to break the monopoly of the state telecoms corporation.

Example

The meeting went on late into the night in an attempt to break the deadlock.

Example

They are determined to break the army's hold on power.

Synonyms and related words
interfere with inhibit disrupt
7.1

to end your connection or relationship with someone

Example

The party is looking to break its ties with the far right.

Synonyms and related words
defriend unfriend break off
7.2

to end a quiet or calm period, for example by talking or making a noise

Example

Hardly a sound broke the sleepy summer silence.

Example

The peaceful mood was broken by the blare of a police siren.

Synonyms and related words
sound tap out let out
7.3

to end a long period in which you have refused to talk about something

Example

Breaking a ten-year silence, he has talked for the first time about his wife's suicide.

Synonyms and related words
end wind up round off
8

when day breaks, it starts to get light in the morning

Example

The day broke grey and dull.

Synonyms and related words
break close in night falls
9

if a storm breaks, it starts

Synonyms and related words
blow itself out blow over blow up
9.1

if the weather breaks, it changes unexpectedly, and usually becomes worse

Example

The long hot spell finally broke.

Synonyms and related words
break break through brighten up
10

if a boy's voice breaks, it becomes deeper and he starts to sound like a man

Synonyms and related words
break choke crack
10.1

if someone's voice breaks, they become unable to speak clearly, usually because they are upset

Synonyms and related words
break choke crack
11

if waves break, they reach their highest point and start to fall

Synonyms and related words
break burst cast up
12

if someone breaks a code (=a secret way of writing), they learn how to understand it

Synonyms and related words
alphanumeric break CAPTCHA
13

if someone's fever breaks, it starts to become less severe

Synonyms and related words
recovery survive recover
Definition break in British English

Related Words

Words related to break:

a clean break (phrase) bad break (noun) booster break (noun) break (verb) break (noun) break a habit (phrase) break a leg (phrase) break a record (phrase) break a strike (phrase) break away (phrasal verb) break cover (phrase) break down (phrasal verb) break even (phrase) break faith with (phrase) break for (phrasal verb) break free (phrase) break in (phrasal verb) break into (phrasal verb) break into a run (phrase) break new ground (phrase) break of day (phrase) break off (phrasal verb) break out (phrasal verb) break out in a sweat (phrase) break point (noun) break ranks (phrase) break someone’s fall (phrase) break someone’s heart (phrase) break someone’s neck (phrase) break someone’s (phrase) break sweat (phrase) break the back of something (phrase) break the bank (phrase) break the ice (phrase) break the mould (phrase) break the spell (phrase) break through (phrasal verb) break up (phrasal verb) break wind (phrase) break with (phrasal verb) break with precedent (phrase) break your back (phrase) break your journey (phrase) break your silence (phrase) break-even point (noun) break-in (noun) loose (phrase) camp (phrase) into song (phrase) career break (noun) coffee break (noun) commercial break (noun) give me a break (phrase) give someone a break (phrase) the Sabbath (phrase) lunch break (noun) make a break (for something) (phrase) make or break (phrase) make-or-break (adjective) midterm break (noun) nanobreak (noun) page break (noun) something to pieces (phrase) someone will break a few hearts (phrase) someone’s waters break (phrase) something won’t break the bank (phrase) spring break (noun) station break (noun) tax break (noun) tea break (noun)