break

Sense 1 noun

some abrupt occurrence that interrupts an ongoing activity

the telephone is an annoying interruption

Sense 2 verb

terminate

She interrupted her pregnancy

Sense 3 noun

an unexpected piece of good luck

he finally got his big break

Sense 4 verb

become separated into pieces or fragments

The figurine broke

Sense 5 noun

(geology) a crack in the earth's crust resulting from the displacement of one side with respect to the other

they built it right over a geological fault

Sense 6 verb

render inoperable or ineffective

You broke the alarm clock when you took it apart!

Sense 7 noun

a personal or social separation (as between opposing factions)

they hoped to avoid a break in relations

Sense 8 verb

ruin completely

He busted my radio!

Sense 9 noun

a pause from doing something (as work)

we took a 10-minute break

Sense 10 verb

destroy the integrity of; usually by force; cause to separate into pieces or fragments

He broke the glass plate

Sense 11 noun

the act of breaking something

the breakage was unavoidable

Sense 12 verb

act in disregard of laws, rules, contracts, or promises

offend all laws of humanity

Sense 13 noun

a time interval during which there is a temporary cessation of something

Sense 14 verb

move away or escape suddenly

The horses broke from the stable

Sense 15 noun

breaking of hard tissue such as bone

it was a nasty fracture

Sense 16 verb

scatter or part

The clouds broke after the heavy downpour

Sense 17 noun

the occurrence of breaking

the break in the dam threatened the valley

Sense 18 verb

force out or release suddenly and often violently something pent up

break into tears

Sense 19 noun

an abrupt change in the tone or register of the voice (as at puberty or due to emotion)

then there was a break in her voice

Sense 20 verb

prevent completion

stop the project

Sense 21 noun

the opening shot that scatters the balls in billiards or pool

Sense 22 verb

enter someone's (virtual or real) property in an unauthorized manner, usually with the intent to steal or commit a violent act

Someone broke in while I was on vacation

Sense 23 noun

(tennis) a score consisting of winning a game when your opponent was serving

he was up two breaks in the second set

Sense 24 verb

make submissive, obedient, or useful

The horse was tough to break

Sense 25 noun

an act of delaying or interrupting the continuity

it was presented without commercial breaks

Sense 26 verb

fail to agree with; be in violation of; as of rules or patterns

This sentence violates the rules of syntax

Sense 27 noun

a sudden dash

he made a break for the open door

Sense 28 verb

surpass in excellence

She bettered her own record

Sense 29 noun

any frame in which a bowler fails to make a strike or spare

the break in the eighth frame cost him the match

Sense 30 verb

make known to the public information that was previously known only to a few people or that was meant to be kept a secret

The auction house would not disclose the price at which the van Gogh had sold

Sense 31 noun

an escape from jail

the breakout was carefully planned

Sense 32 verb

come into being

light broke over the horizon

Sense 33 verb

stop operating or functioning

The engine finally went

Sense 34 verb

interrupt a continued activity

She had broken with the traditional patterns

Sense 35 verb

make a rupture in the ranks of the enemy or one's own by quitting or fleeing

The ranks broke

Sense 36 verb

curl over and fall apart in surf or foam, of waves

The surf broke

Sense 37 verb

lessen in force or effect

soften a shock

Sense 38 verb

be broken in

If the new teacher won't break, we'll add some stress

Sense 39 verb

come to an end

The heat wave finally broke yesterday

Sense 40 verb

vary or interrupt a uniformity or continuity

The flat plain was broken by tall mesas

Sense 41 verb

cause to give up a habit

She finally broke herself of smoking cigarettes

Sense 42 verb

give up

break cigarette smoking

Sense 43 verb

come forth or begin from a state of latency

The first winter storm broke over New York

Sense 44 verb

happen or take place

Things have been breaking pretty well for us in the past few months

Sense 45 verb

cause the failure or ruin of

His peccadilloes finally broke his marriage

Sense 46 verb

invalidate by judicial action

The will was broken

Sense 47 verb

discontinue an association or relation; go different ways

The business partners broke over a tax question

Sense 48 verb

assign to a lower position; reduce in rank

She was demoted because she always speaks up

Sense 49 verb

reduce to bankruptcy

My daughter's fancy wedding is going to break me!

Sense 50 verb

change directions suddenly

Sense 51 verb

emerge from the surface of a body of water

The whales broke

Sense 52 verb

break down, literally or metaphorically

The wall collapsed

Sense 53 verb

do a break dance

Kids were break-dancing at the street corner

Sense 54 verb

exchange for smaller units of money

I had to break a $100 bill just to buy the candy

Sense 55 verb

destroy the completeness of a set of related items

The book dealer would not break the set

Sense 56 verb

make the opening shot that scatters the balls

Sense 57 verb

separate from a clinch, in boxing

The referee broke the boxers

Sense 58 verb

go to pieces

The lawn mower finally broke

Sense 59 verb

break a piece from a whole

break a branch from a tree

Sense 60 verb

become punctured or penetrated

The skin broke

Sense 61 verb

pierce or penetrate

The blade broke her skin

Sense 62 verb

be released or become known; of news

News of her death broke in the morning

Sense 63 verb

cease an action temporarily

We pause for station identification

Sense 64 verb

interrupt the flow of current in

break a circuit

Sense 65 verb

undergo breaking

The simple vowels broke in many Germanic languages

Sense 66 verb

find a flaw in

break an alibi

Sense 67 verb

find the solution or key to

break the code

Sense 68 verb

change suddenly from one tone quality or register to another

Her voice broke to a whisper when she started to talk about her children

Sense 69 verb

happen

Report the news as it develops

Sense 70 verb

become fractured; break or crack on the surface only

The glass cracked when it was heated

Sense 71 verb

crack; of the male voice in puberty

his voice is breaking--he should no longer sing in the choir

Sense 72 verb

fall sharply

stock prices broke

Sense 73 verb

fracture a bone of

I broke my foot while playing hockey

Sense 74 verb

diminish or discontinue abruptly

The patient's fever broke last night

Sense 75 verb

weaken or destroy in spirit or body

His resistance was broken