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Consult Chambers 21st Century Dictionary, The Chambers Thesaurus (1996) or Chambers Biographical Dictionary (1997 edition with amendments). Enter your search and choose your title from the drop-down menu.
break verb (past tense broke, past participle broken, present participle breaking) 1 tr & intr to divide or become divided into two or more parts as a result of stress or a blow • He broke my ruler in half. 2 a intrans said of a machine or tool, etc: to become damaged, so as to stop working and be in need of repair; b to damage (a machine or tool, etc) in such a way. 3 to fracture a bone in (a limb, etc). 4 to burst or cut (the skin, etc). 5 to do something not allowed by (a law, agreement, promise, etc); to violate something • broke the rules. 6 to exceed or improve upon (a sporting record, etc). 7 intrans to stop work, etc for a short period of time • Let's break for tea. 8 to interrupt (a journey, one's concentration, etc). 9 intrans said of a boy's voice: to become lower in tone on reaching puberty. 10 to defeat or destroy something • break a strike. 11 to force open with explosives • break a safe. 12 intrans said of a storm: to begin violently. 13 tr & intr said of news, etc: to make or become known • He was away when the story broke • had to break the bad news to her. 14 intrans (also break up) to disperse or scatter • The crowd broke up. 15 to reduce the force of (a fall or a blow, etc). 16 intrans said of waves, etc: to collapse into foam. 17 to lose or disrupt the order or form of somethig • break ranks. 18 intrans said of the weather: to change suddenly, especially after a fine spell. 19 tr & intr to cut or burst through • break the silence • sun breaking through the clouds. 20 intrans to come into being • day breaking over the hills. 21 tr & intr to make or become weaker. 22 to make someone bankrupt; to destroy them financially. 23 to decipher (a code, etc). 24 to disprove (an alibi, etc). 25 to interrupt the flow of electricity in (a circuit). 26 intrans, snooker to take the first shot at the beginning of a game. 27 intrans, tennis (also break service and break someone's service) to win (an opponent's service game). 28 intrans, boxing to come out of a clinch. 29 intrans, cricket said of a ball: to change direction on hitting the ground. 30 (usually break someone of something) to make them give up (a bad habit, etc). noun 1 an act or result of breaking. 2 a a pause, interval or interruption in some ongoing activity or situation • Let's take a break; b (also breaktime) a short interval in work or lessons, etc • Come and see me at break. US equivalent recess. 3 a change or shift from the usual or overall trend • a break in the weather. 4 a sudden rush, especially to escape • make a break for it. 5 colloq a chance or opportunity to show one's ability, etc, often a sudden or unexpected one • After that first break, his career took off • Give me a break. 6 colloq a piece of luck. Also in compounds • a bad break • lucky break. 7 snooker, billiards, etc a series of successful shots played one after the other. 8 snooker, billiards, etc the opening shot of a game. 9 tennis (also break of service or service break) an instance of breaking service (see verb 27 above). 10 cricket the change of direction made by a ball on striking the ground. 11 an interruption in the electricity flowing through a circuit. 12 music in jazz, etc: a short improvised solo passage. break camp to pack up the equipment after camping. break cover said eg of a fox: to make a dash from its hiding place; to come out of hiding. break into song, laughter, etc to begin singing or laughing, etc, especially unexpectedly. break loose or free 1 to escape from control. 2 to become detached. break it down! Austral & NZ colloq stop it!; cut it out! British equivalent give over. break new or fresh ground to do something in an original way. break someone's heart to devastate them emotionally, usually by failing or betraying them in love. break something open to open (a box, door, etc) by force. break step said of soldiers, etc: to march out of step deliberately. break the back of something to complete the heaviest or most difficult part of a job, etc. break the ice colloq to overcome the first awkwardness or shyness, etc, especially on a first meeting or in a new situation. break wind to release gas from the bowels through the anus; to fart.
ETYMOLOGY: Anglo-Saxon brecan.
break away intrans 1 to escape from control, especially suddenly or forcibly. 2 to put an end to one's connection with a group or custom, etc, especially suddenly. See also breakaway. break away from or out from something to make a sudden forward movement or burst of speed away or out from it. break down 1 said of a machine, etc: to stop working properly; to fail. 2 to collapse, disintegrate or decompose. 3 said of a person: to give way to one's emotions; to burst into tears. 4 said of human relationships: to be unsuccessful and so come to an end • The marriage has broken down irretrievably. 5 said of a person: to suffer a nervous breakdown. See also breakdown. break something down 1 to use force to crush, demolish or knock it down. 2 to divide into separate parts and analyse it • We need to break down these figures. See also breakdown. break even 1 to make neither a profit nor a loss in a transaction. 2 to reach the point at which income or revenue is exactly equal to spending or cost. break in 1 to enter a building by force, especially to steal things inside • Thieves broke in last night. See also break-in. 2 (also break in on something) to interrupt (a conversation, etc). break someone in to train or familiarize them in a new job or role. break something in 1 to use or wear (new shoes or boots, etc) so that they lose their stiffness, etc. 2 to train (a horse) to carry a saddle and a rider. See also broken-in. break off 1 to become detached by breaking • The top broke off. 2 to come to an end abruptly. 3 to stop talking. break something off 1 to detach it by breaking. 2 to end (eg a relationship) abruptly. break out 1 to escape from a prison, etc using force. 2 to begin suddenly and usually violently • then war broke out. 3 (especially break out in something) to become suddenly covered in (spots or a rash, etc). See also breakout. break through 1 to force a way through. 2 to make a new discovery or be successful, especially after a difficult or unsuccessful period. See also breakthrough. break up 1 to break into pieces. 2 to come to an end; to finish • The meeting broke up early. 3 said of people: to end a relationship or marriage • His parents have broken up. 4 said of a school or a pupil: to end term and begin the holidays. See also break-up. break someone up N Amer colloq to make them laugh convulsively • You break me up when you do that. break something up 1 to divide it into pieces. 2 to make it finish or come to an end. See also break-up. break with someone to stop associating with them. |
break verb (past tense broke, past participle broken, present participle breaking) 1 tr & intr to divide or become divided into two or more parts as a result of stress or a blow • He broke my ruler in half. 2 a intrans said of a machine or tool, etc: to become damaged, so as to stop working and be in need of repair; b to damage (a machine or tool, etc) in such a way. 3 to fracture a bone in (a limb, etc). 4 to burst or cut (the skin, etc). 5 to do something not allowed by (a law, agreement, promise, etc); to violate something • broke the rules. 6 to exceed or improve upon (a sporting record, etc). 7 intrans to stop work, etc for a short period of time • Let's break for tea. 8 to interrupt (a journey, one's concentration, etc). 9 intrans said of a boy's voice: to become lower in tone on reaching puberty. 10 to defeat or destroy something • break a strike. 11 to force open with explosives • break a safe. 12 intrans said of a storm: to begin violently. 13 tr & intr said of news, etc: to make or become known • He was away when the story broke • had to break the bad news to her. 14 intrans (also break up) to disperse or scatter • The crowd broke up. 15 to reduce the force of (a fall or a blow, etc). 16 intrans said of waves, etc: to collapse into foam. 17 to lose or disrupt the order or form of somethig • break ranks. 18 intrans said of the weather: to change suddenly, especially after a fine spell. 19 tr & intr to cut or burst through • break the silence • sun breaking through the clouds. 20 intrans to come into being • day breaking over the hills. 21 tr & intr to make or become weaker. 22 to make someone bankrupt; to destroy them financially. 23 to decipher (a code, etc). 24 to disprove (an alibi, etc). 25 to interrupt the flow of electricity in (a circuit). 26 intrans, snooker to take the first shot at the beginning of a game. 27 intrans, tennis (also break service and break someone's service) to win (an opponent's service game). 28 intrans, boxing to come out of a clinch. 29 intrans, cricket said of a ball: to change direction on hitting the ground. 30 (usually break someone of something) to make them give up (a bad habit, etc). noun 1 an act or result of breaking. 2 a a pause, interval or interruption in some ongoing activity or situation • Let's take a break; b (also breaktime) a short interval in work or lessons, etc • Come and see me at break. US equivalent recess. 3 a change or shift from the usual or overall trend • a break in the weather. 4 a sudden rush, especially to escape • make a break for it. 5 colloq a chance or opportunity to show one's ability, etc, often a sudden or unexpected one • After that first break, his career took off • Give me a break. 6 colloq a piece of luck. Also in compounds • a bad break • lucky break. 7 snooker, billiards, etc a series of successful shots played one after the other. 8 snooker, billiards, etc the opening shot of a game. 9 tennis (also break of service or service break) an instance of breaking service (see verb 27 above). 10 cricket the change of direction made by a ball on striking the ground. 11 an interruption in the electricity flowing through a circuit. 12 music in jazz, etc: a short improvised solo passage. break camp to pack up the equipment after camping. break cover said eg of a fox: to make a dash from its hiding place; to come out of hiding. break into song, laughter, etc to begin singing or laughing, etc, especially unexpectedly. break loose or free 1 to escape from control. 2 to become detached. break it down! Austral & NZ colloq stop it!; cut it out! British equivalent give over. break new or fresh ground to do something in an original way. break someone's heart to devastate them emotionally, usually by failing or betraying them in love. break something open to open (a box, door, etc) by force. break step said of soldiers, etc: to march out of step deliberately. break the back of something to complete the heaviest or most difficult part of a job, etc. break the ice colloq to overcome the first awkwardness or shyness, etc, especially on a first meeting or in a new situation. break wind to release gas from the bowels through the anus; to fart.
ETYMOLOGY: Anglo-Saxon brecan.
break away intrans 1 to escape from control, especially suddenly or forcibly. 2 to put an end to one's connection with a group or custom, etc, especially suddenly. See also breakaway. break away from or out from something to make a sudden forward movement or burst of speed away or out from it. break down 1 said of a machine, etc: to stop working properly; to fail. 2 to collapse, disintegrate or decompose. 3 said of a person: to give way to one's emotions; to burst into tears. 4 said of human relationships: to be unsuccessful and so come to an end • The marriage has broken down irretrievably. 5 said of a person: to suffer a nervous breakdown. See also breakdown. break something down 1 to use force to crush, demolish or knock it down. 2 to divide into separate parts and analyse it • We need to break down these figures. See also breakdown. break even 1 to make neither a profit nor a loss in a transaction. 2 to reach the point at which income or revenue is exactly equal to spending or cost. break in 1 to enter a building by force, especially to steal things inside • Thieves broke in last night. See also break-in. 2 (also break in on something) to interrupt (a conversation, etc). break someone in to train or familiarize them in a new job or role. break something in 1 to use or wear (new shoes or boots, etc) so that they lose their stiffness, etc. 2 to train (a horse) to carry a saddle and a rider. See also broken-in. break off 1 to become detached by breaking • The top broke off. 2 to come to an end abruptly. 3 to stop talking. break something off 1 to detach it by breaking. 2 to end (eg a relationship) abruptly. break out 1 to escape from a prison, etc using force. 2 to begin suddenly and usually violently • then war broke out. 3 (especially break out in something) to become suddenly covered in (spots or a rash, etc). See also breakout. break through 1 to force a way through. 2 to make a new discovery or be successful, especially after a difficult or unsuccessful period. See also breakthrough. break up 1 to break into pieces. 2 to come to an end; to finish • The meeting broke up early. 3 said of people: to end a relationship or marriage • His parents have broken up. 4 said of a school or a pupil: to end term and begin the holidays. See also break-up. break someone up N Amer colloq to make them laugh convulsively • You break me up when you do that. break something up 1 to divide it into pieces. 2 to make it finish or come to an end. See also break-up. break with someone to stop associating with them. |
break verb (past tense broke, past participle broken, present participle breaking) 1 tr & intr to divide or become divided into two or more parts as a result of stress or a blow • He broke my ruler in half. 2 a intrans said of a machine or tool, etc: to become damaged, so as to stop working and be in need of repair; b to damage (a machine or tool, etc) in such a way. 3 to fracture a bone in (a limb, etc). 4 to burst or cut (the skin, etc). 5 to do something not allowed by (a law, agreement, promise, etc); to violate something • broke the rules. 6 to exceed or improve upon (a sporting record, etc). 7 intrans to stop work, etc for a short period of time • Let's break for tea. 8 to interrupt (a journey, one's concentration, etc). 9 intrans said of a boy's voice: to become lower in tone on reaching puberty. 10 to defeat or destroy something • break a strike. 11 to force open with explosives • break a safe. 12 intrans said of a storm: to begin violently. 13 tr & intr said of news, etc: to make or become known • He was away when the story broke • had to break the bad news to her. 14 intrans (also break up) to disperse or scatter • The crowd broke up. 15 to reduce the force of (a fall or a blow, etc). 16 intrans said of waves, etc: to collapse into foam. 17 to lose or disrupt the order or form of somethig • break ranks. 18 intrans said of the weather: to change suddenly, especially after a fine spell. 19 tr & intr to cut or burst through • break the silence • sun breaking through the clouds. 20 intrans to come into being • day breaking over the hills. 21 tr & intr to make or become weaker. 22 to make someone bankrupt; to destroy them financially. 23 to decipher (a code, etc). 24 to disprove (an alibi, etc). 25 to interrupt the flow of electricity in (a circuit). 26 intrans, snooker to take the first shot at the beginning of a game. 27 intrans, tennis (also break service and break someone's service) to win (an opponent's service game). 28 intrans, boxing to come out of a clinch. 29 intrans, cricket said of a ball: to change direction on hitting the ground. 30 (usually break someone of something) to make them give up (a bad habit, etc). noun 1 an act or result of breaking. 2 a a pause, interval or interruption in some ongoing activity or situation • Let's take a break; b (also breaktime) a short interval in work or lessons, etc • Come and see me at break. US equivalent recess. 3 a change or shift from the usual or overall trend • a break in the weather. 4 a sudden rush, especially to escape • make a break for it. 5 colloq a chance or opportunity to show one's ability, etc, often a sudden or unexpected one • After that first break, his career took off • Give me a break. 6 colloq a piece of luck. Also in compounds • a bad break • lucky break. 7 snooker, billiards, etc a series of successful shots played one after the other. 8 snooker, billiards, etc the opening shot of a game. 9 tennis (also break of service or service break) an instance of breaking service (see verb 27 above). 10 cricket the change of direction made by a ball on striking the ground. 11 an interruption in the electricity flowing through a circuit. 12 music in jazz, etc: a short improvised solo passage. break camp to pack up the equipment after camping. break cover said eg of a fox: to make a dash from its hiding place; to come out of hiding. break into song, laughter, etc to begin singing or laughing, etc, especially unexpectedly. break loose or free 1 to escape from control. 2 to become detached. break it down! Austral & NZ colloq stop it!; cut it out! British equivalent give over. break new or fresh ground to do something in an original way. break someone's heart to devastate them emotionally, usually by failing or betraying them in love. break something open to open (a box, door, etc) by force. break step said of soldiers, etc: to march out of step deliberately. break the back of something to complete the heaviest or most difficult part of a job, etc. break the ice colloq to overcome the first awkwardness or shyness, etc, especially on a first meeting or in a new situation. break wind to release gas from the bowels through the anus; to fart.
ETYMOLOGY: Anglo-Saxon brecan.
break away intrans 1 to escape from control, especially suddenly or forcibly. 2 to put an end to one's connection with a group or custom, etc, especially suddenly. See also breakaway. break away from or out from something to make a sudden forward movement or burst of speed away or out from it. break down 1 said of a machine, etc: to stop working properly; to fail. 2 to collapse, disintegrate or decompose. 3 said of a person: to give way to one's emotions; to burst into tears. 4 said of human relationships: to be unsuccessful and so come to an end • The marriage has broken down irretrievably. 5 said of a person: to suffer a nervous breakdown. See also breakdown. break something down 1 to use force to crush, demolish or knock it down. 2 to divide into separate parts and analyse it • We need to break down these figures. See also breakdown. break even 1 to make neither a profit nor a loss in a transaction. 2 to reach the point at which income or revenue is exactly equal to spending or cost. break in 1 to enter a building by force, especially to steal things inside • Thieves broke in last night. See also break-in. 2 (also break in on something) to interrupt (a conversation, etc). break someone in to train or familiarize them in a new job or role. break something in 1 to use or wear (new shoes or boots, etc) so that they lose their stiffness, etc. 2 to train (a horse) to carry a saddle and a rider. See also broken-in. break off 1 to become detached by breaking • The top broke off. 2 to come to an end abruptly. 3 to stop talking. break something off 1 to detach it by breaking. 2 to end (eg a relationship) abruptly. break out 1 to escape from a prison, etc using force. 2 to begin suddenly and usually violently • then war broke out. 3 (especially break out in something) to become suddenly covered in (spots or a rash, etc). See also breakout. break through 1 to force a way through. 2 to make a new discovery or be successful, especially after a difficult or unsuccessful period. See also breakthrough. break up 1 to break into pieces. 2 to come to an end; to finish • The meeting broke up early. 3 said of people: to end a relationship or marriage • His parents have broken up. 4 said of a school or a pupil: to end term and begin the holidays. See also break-up. break someone up N Amer colloq to make them laugh convulsively • You break me up when you do that. break something up 1 to divide it into pieces. 2 to make it finish or come to an end. See also break-up. break with someone to stop associating with them. |
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