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Main Entry: 1breakPronunciation: brkFunction: verbInflected
Form: broke brk broken br-kn breakingEtymology: Middle English
breken,from Old English brecanakin to Old High German
brehhanto break, Latin frangereDate: before 12th century
transitive verb1 a:to separate into parts with suddenness or
violence b:FRACTURE breakan arm c:RUPTURE breakthe skin d:to cut
into and turn over the surface of breakthe soil e:torender
inoperable brokehis watch2 a:VIOLATE, TRANSGRESS breakthe law
breaka promise b:to invalidate a will by actionat law3 aarchaic :to
force entry into b:to burst and force a way through breakthe sound
barrier breaka racial barrier c:to escape by force from breakjail
d:to make or effect by cutting,forcing, or pressing through breaka
trail through the woods4:to disrupt the order or compactness of
breakformation5:to make ineffective as a binding force breakthe
spell6 a:to defeat utterly and end as an effective force :DESTROY
used starvation to breaktheenemy b:to crush the spirit of brutal
methods brokethe prisoner c:to make tractable orsubmissive: as
1past participle often broke:to train an animal to adjust to the
service orconvenience of humans a halter-brokehorse 2 :INURE,
ACCUSTOM d:to exhaust in health,strength, or capacity brokenby his
struggle for power7 a:to stop or bring to an end suddenly :HALT
breaka deadlock b:INTERRUPT, SUSPEND breakthe silence with a cry
c:to open and bring about suspension of operation breakanelectric
circuit d:to destroy unity or completeness of breaka dining room
set by buying achair e:to change the appearance of uniformity of a
dormer breaksthe level roof f:to splitthe surface of fish
breakingwater g:to cause to discontinue a habit tried to breakhim
ofsmoking8 a:to make known :TELL breakthe bad news gently b:to
bring to attention or prominenceinitially radio stations
breakingnew musicians breaka news story
9 a:to ruin financially breakthe bank b:to reduce in rank
brokenfrom sergeant to private10 a:to split into smaller units,
parts, or processes :DIVIDE b 1 :to give or get the equivalent ofa
bill in smaller denominations 2 :to use as the denomination in
paying a bill didnt want tobreaka $20 bill often used with into,
up,or down11 a:to check the speed, force, or intensity of the
bushes will breakhis fall without breakingher stride b:to cause
failure and discontinuance of a strike by measures outside
bargainingprocesses12:to cause a sudden significant decrease in the
price, value, or volume of news likely to breakthe market sharply13
a:EXCEED, SURPASS breakthe record b:to score less than a specified
total a golfertrying to break90 c:to win against an opponents
service in tennis d:to make a run infootball by getting past
defenders brokea 20-yard run14:to open the action of a
breechloader
15 a:to find an explanation or solution for :SOLVE the detective
brokethe case b:to discoverthe essentials of a code or cipher
system16:to demonstrate the falsity of breakan alibi17:to ruin the
prospects of could make or breakher career18:to produce visibly
barely breaksa sweatintransitive verb1 a:to escape with sudden
forceful effort the attacker brokefrom the throng b:to come
intobeing by or as if by bursting forth day was breaking c:to
effect a penetration breakthrough
2003 Merriam-Webster, Incorporated
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security lines d:to emerge through the surface of the water e:to
start abruptly when thestorm broke f:to become known or published
when the news broke g:to make a suddendash breakfor cover h:to
separate after a clinch in boxing i:to achieve initial success
inusually a sudden or striking way her song brokenationally j:to
begin a race the horse brokepoorly2 a:to come apart or split into
pieces :FRAGMENT, SHATTER the cup brokewhen it fell b:toopen
spontaneously or by pressure from within the blister broke cof a
wave :to curl over
and fall apart in surf or foam3:to interrupt ones activity or
occupation for a brief period breakfor lunch
4:to alter sharply in tone, pitch, or intensity a voice
breakingwith emotion5:to become fair :CLEAR when the weather
breaks6:to make the opening shot of a game of pool7:to end a
relationship, connection, or agreement usually used with withor
from8:to give way in disorderly retreat9 a:to swerve suddenly b:to
curve from a straight path a pitch that breaksaway from thebatter a
putt that breaksleft10 a:to fail in health, strength, vitality,
resolve, or control may breakunder questioning b:tobecome
inoperative because of damage, wear, or strain the pump broke11:to
fail to keep a prescribed gait used of a horse12:to undergo a
sudden significant decrease in price, value, or volume
transportation stocksmay breaksharply13:HAPPEN, DEVELOP for the
team to succeed, everything has to breakright14:to win against an
opponents service in tennis15 a:to divide into classes, categories,
or types usually used with into the rose is brokenintoseveral
varieties b:to fold, bend, lift, or come apart at a seam, groove,
or joint cof cream :toseparate during churning into liquid and fat
break a leg used to wish good luck especially to a performer break
bread:to dine together break camp:to pack up gear and leave a camp
or campsite break coveralso break covert:to start from a covert or
lair break even:to achieve a balance especially :to operate a
business or enterprise withouteither loss or profit
break free:to get away by overcoming restraints or constraints
break ground1:to begin construction2or break new ground:to make or
show discoveries :PIONEER break into1:to begin with or as if with a
sudden throwing off of restraint broke intotears face breakingintoa
smile the horse breaks intoa gallop2:to make entry or entrance into
broke intothe house break intoshow business3:INTERRUPT break intoa
TV program with a news flash break ones heart:to crush emotionally
with sorrow break ones wrists:to turn the wrists as part of the
swing of a club or bat break ranksalso break rank:to differ in
opinion or action from ones peers often usedwith with
break the back of:to subdue the main force of break the back
ofinflation break the ice1:to make a beginning2:to get through the
first difficulties in starting a conversation or discussion break
wind:to expel gas from the intestine
2003 Merriam-Webster, Incorporated
