break
🇺🇸
/breɪk/
🇬🇧
/breɪk/
verb
A1
To cause to separate into pieces, typically by force.
The boat hit a rock and broke in half.
A1
To stop functioning or become inoperative.
My watch has broken.
R
To cause a wound that bleeds by penetrating the skin.
The dog bit me but didn't break the skin.
B1
To violate a law, promise, or rule.
People should not be allowed to break the rules.
R
To pause an activity temporarily, often for rest or refreshment.
Parliament breaks for recess next week.
R
To cause to come to an abrupt end.
A tree broke his fall.
R
To forcefully bring to an end or defeat.
Management has not succeeded in breaking the strike.
R
To sever ties or connections with.
He broke all ties with his parents.
R
To escape or be released from confinement or control.
He finally managed to break free from his attacker.
R
To weaken or cause to collapse.
The scandal broke him.
R
To win a point in tennis when it is the opponent's turn to serve.
Williams broke her opponent's serve five times.
R
To cause deep emotional pain or distress.
The death of his wife broke him completely.
R
To change suddenly, especially from good to bad conditions.
On the third day the weather broke and they had a violent storm.
R
To clear after being cloudy or obscured.
The clouds broke and the sun came out.
R
To emerge from a liquid surface.
When his head broke the surface he took in deep gulps of air.
R
To begin or start, typically a day or a storm.
Dawn was breaking when they finally left.
R
To become known or public.
There was a public outcry when the scandal broke.
R
To inform someone of bad or disappointing news.
Just break the news to her gently.
R
To change in tone, often due to emotion.
Her voice broke as she told us the dreadful news.
R
To become deeper in pitch, typically in adolescence.
R
To achieve a record or surpass a previous best.
She had broken the world 100 metres record.
R
For waves to crash and disperse into foam, usually near the shore.
The sea was breaking over the wrecked ship.
R
To decipher or solve a code or cipher.
to break a code
R
To exchange a banknote for smaller denominations.
Can you break a twenty-dollar bill?
noun
A1
A pause from an activity, often for rest or refreshment.
She was on her lunch break.
R
A short interval between school lessons.
Come and see me at break.
B1
A period of time off from work, often for travel or personal reasons.
Employees can take a career break of up to one year.
B1
A pause in a television or radio program for advertisements.
Most viewers tend to skip through the ad breaks.
B1
A short vacation or trip.
We had a weekend break in New York.
R
A significant change or difference, often from a previous state or tradition.
This event represents a real break from tradition.
R
A gap or opening between objects or elements.
Wait for a break in the traffic before crossing the road.
R
An opportunity to succeed or gain an advantage.
I got my lucky break when I won a ‘Young Journalist of the Year’ competition.
R
A fracture or crack in a solid object, such as a bone.
The X-ray showed there was no break in his leg.
R
A point won against an opponent's serve in tennis.
It was her second break in the set.
R
A series of successful consecutive shots in billiards or snooker.
The champion began with breaks of 74 and 58.
translation
To cause to separate into pieces, typically by force.; To stop functioning or become inoperative.; To cause a wound that bleeds by penetrating the skin.; To violate a law, promise, or rule.; To pause an activity temporarily, often for rest or refreshment.; To cause to come to an abrupt end.; To forcefully bring to an end or defeat.; To sever ties or connections with.; To escape or be released from confinement or control.; To weaken or cause to collapse.; To win a point in tennis when it is the opponent's turn to serve.; To cause deep emotional pain or distress.; To change suddenly, especially from good to bad conditions.; To clear after being cloudy or obscured.; To emerge from a liquid surface.; To begin or start, typically a day or a storm.; To become known or public.; To inform someone of bad or disappointing news.; To change in tone, often due to emotion.; To become deeper in pitch, typically in adolescence.; To achieve a record or surpass a previous best.; For waves to crash and disperse into foam, usually near the shore.; To decipher or solve a code or cipher.; To exchange a banknote for smaller denominations.
A pause from an activity, often for rest or refreshment.; A short interval between school lessons.; A period of time off from work, often for travel or personal reasons.; A pause in a television or radio program for advertisements.; A short vacation or trip.; A significant change or difference, often from a previous state or tradition.; A gap or opening between objects or elements.; An opportunity to succeed or gain an advantage.; A fracture or crack in a solid object, such as a bone.; A point won against an opponent's serve in tennis.; A series of successful consecutive shots in billiards or snooker.
Word Forms
Past
broke
Perfect
broken
3rd Present
breaks
Progressive
breaking
Plural
breaks