break

Meanings

break¹

verbbreak (third-person singular simple present breaks, present participle breaking, simple past broke or (archaic) brake, past participle broken or (nonstandard) broke)

present singular third person breaks · participle present breaking · past broke · archaic past brake · participle past broken · nonstandard participle past broke · first person past singular broke · archaic present second person singular breakest · past second person singular broke · archaic past second person singular brokest · present singular third person breaks · archaic present singular third person breaketh · past singular third person broke · past plural broke · past subjunctive broke · participle present breaking

ergativeintransitivetransitiveTo separate into two or more pieces, to fracture or crack, by a process that cannot easily be reversed for reassembly.
If the vase falls to the floor, it might break.
2 more examples
In order to tend to the accident victim, he will break the window of the car.
First, marinate the tofu. In a bowl, whisk the kecap manis, chilli sauce, and sesame oil together. Cut the tofu into strips about 1cm thick, mix gently (so it doesn't break) with the marinade and leave in the fridge for half an hour.
2012 May 8, Yotam Ottolenghi, Sami Tamimi, Ottolenghi: The Cookbook, Random House, →ISBN, page 79
1. ergativeintransitivetransitiveTo crack or fracture (bone) under a physical strain.
  He slipped on the ice and broke his leg.
  1 more example
  His ribs broke under the weight of the rocks piled on his chest.
2. ergativeintransitivetransitiveball gamesTo make the first shot; to scatter the balls from the initial neat arrangement.
  Is it your or my turn to break?
3. ergativefigurativelyintransitivetransitiveTo divide (something, often money) into smaller units.
  Can you break a hundred-dollar bill for me?
  1 more example
  The wholesaler broke the container loads into palettes and boxes for local retailers.
4. ergativefigurativelyintransitivetransitiveTo use a high-value denomination of currency, thus necessitating being given change in smaller denominations.
  I don't want to break my hundred dollar bill.
5. ergativeintransitivetransitiveTo change the orderliness or compactness of an arrangement.
  The soldier broke formation.
6. ergativeintransitivetransitiveTo disrupt the surface of and turn over the body of a substance.
  You have to break the soil with the ho.
transitiveTo cause (a person or animal) to lose spirit or will; to crush the spirits of.
Her child’s death broke Angela.
4 more examples
Interrogators have used many forms of torture to break prisoners of war.
The interrogator hoped to break her to get her testimony against her accomplices.
If I had called, and had answered me, yet would I not beleeue that he had hearkened vnto my voice: For he breaketh me with a tempest, and multiplieth my wounds without cause.
1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Job 9:16–17
An old man, broken with the storms of state, Is come to lay his weary bones among ye; Give him a little earth for charity
1613 (date written), William Shakespeare, [John Fletcher], “The Famous History of the Life of King Henry the Eight”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene ii]
1. intransitivetransitiveTo be crushed, or overwhelmed with sorrow or grief.
  My heart is breaking.
  1 more example
  Two days later they transferred her to another prison to separate us. I broke. My life was gone, so I thought.
  1986 February 1, Kathy Jo Elliott, “Solid As A Rock”, in Gay Community News, volume 13, number 28, page 5
2. transitiveTo turn an animal into a beast of burden.
  You have to break an elephant before you can use it as an animal of burden.
  1 more example
  Colonel: See, gentlemen? Any horse could be broken.
  2002, John Fusco, Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron
  Synonyms: break in
transitiveTo destroy the strength, firmness, or consistency of.
to break flax
1. intransitivetransitiveTo become weakened in constitution or faculties; to lose health or strength.
  See how the dean begins to break; / Poor gentleman he droops apace.
  1731, Verses on His Own Death, Jonathan Swift
2. transitiveTo destroy the official character and standing of; to cashier; to dismiss.
  when I see a great officer broke.
  January 11, 1711, Jonathan Swift, The Examiner No. 24
3. transitivemost often in the passive tensegovernmentTo demote; to reduce the military rank of.
  And he played no favorites: when his son-in-law sacked a city he had been told to spare, Genghis broke him to private.
  1953 February 9, “Books: First Rulers of Asia”, in Time
  3 more examples
  Sir Reginald Wingate, High Commissioner in Egypt, was happy for the success of the work he had advocated for years. I grudged him this happiness; for McMahon, who took the actual risk of starting it, had been broken just before prosperity began.
  1926, T.E. Lawrence, Seven Pillars of Wisdom, New York: Anchor, published 1991, page 167
  One morning after the budget had failed to balance Finanzminister von Scholz picked up Der Reichsanzeiger and found he had been broken to sergeant.
  1968, William Manchester, The Arms of Krupp, Back Bay, published 2003, →ISBN, page 215
  Not long after this event, Clausen became involved in another disciplinary situation and was broken to private—the only one to win the Medal of Honor in Vietnam.
  2006, Peter Collier, Medal of Honor: Portraits of Valor Beyond the Call of Duty, Second Edition, Artisan Books, →ISBN, page 42
4. transitiveTo end (something) as a meaningful force.
  break the enemy
5. transitivehobbiesTo win a game (against one's opponent) as receiver.
  He needs to break serve to win the match.
  1 more example
  Yet when play restarted the Czech was a train that kept on running over Nadal. After breaking Nadal in the opening game of the final set, he went 2-0 up and later took the count to 4-2 with yet another emphatic ace – one of his 22 throughout.
  2012 June 28, Jamie Jackson, “Wimbledon 2012: Lukas Rosol shocked by miracle win over Rafael Nadal”, in the Guardian
6. transitivebackgammonTo remove one of the two men on (a point).
transitiveTo interrupt; to destroy the continuity of; to dissolve or terminate.
to break silence; to break one's sleep; to break one’s journey
3 more examples
I’ve got to break this habit I have of biting my nails. Can you break this habit of mine?
I had won four games in a row, but now you've broken my streak of luck.
Go, release them, Ariel; / My charms I'll break, their senses I'll restore.
1610–1611 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tempest”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act V, scene i]
1. transitiveTo end (a connection); to disconnect.
  to break an electric circuit
  3 more examples
  The referee ordered the boxers to break the clinch.
  The referee broke the boxers' clinch.
  I couldn’t hear a thing he was saying, so I broke the connection and called him back.
2. transitiveTo ruin financially; to harm.
  His actions could break my career.
  2 more examples
  The recession broke some small businesses.
  With arts like these rich Matho, when he speaks, / Attracts all fees, and little lawyers breaks.
  1693, Decimus Junius Juvenalis, John Dryden, transl., “[The Satires of Decimus Junius Juvenalis.] The Seventh Satyr”, in The Satires of Decimus Junius Juvenalis. Translated into English Verse. […] Together with the Satires of Aulus Persius Flaccus. […], London: […] Jacob Tonson […], →OCLC
3. transitiveentertainmentTo end the run of (a play).
  In July Alexander broke the run and went on tour, as was his custom. He believed in keeping in touch with provincial audiences and how wise he was!
  1958, Walter Macqueen-Pope, St. James's: Theatre of Distinction, page 134
  1 more example
  After Camberwell he broke the play's season and brought it back in the autumn with a few revisions and a noticeably strengthened cast but without any special success.
  1986, Kurt Gänzl, The British Musical Theatre: 1865-1914, page 610
4. intransitivetransitivebusinessOf prices on the stock exchange: to fall suddenly.
  With a few exceptions, stock prices tend to follow the overall market averages. When you have a market decline, therefore, many stocks share the same overall chart pattern. Prices break and go sideways for a period of time.
  2008, George Angell, Small Stocks for Big Profits
5. transitiveTo violate a contract or end the applicability of a will.
  He broke the lease.
6. transitiveTo end the continuity or consistency of something.
  She broke the matching set by buying a one of a kind item.
7. intransitiveobsoletetransitiveTo fail in business; to go broke, to become bankrupt.
  ‘I knew he was in some such low way—He broke did not he?’
  1791-92, Jane Austen, ‘A Collection of Letters’, Juvenilia
  1 more example
  He that puts all upon adventures doth oftentimes break, and come to poverty.
  1625, Francis [Bacon], “Of Riches”, in The Essayes […], 3rd edition, London: […] Iohn Haviland for Hanna Barret, →OCLC
8. archaicintransitivetransitiveTo fall out; to terminate friendship.
  c. 1700 Jeremy Collier, On Friendship To break upon the score of danger or expense is to be mean and narrow-spirited.
transitiveTo change a steady state abruptly.
His coughing broke the silence.
2 more examples
His turning on the lights broke the enchantment.
With the mood broken, what we had been doing seemed pretty silly.
1. transitiveTo disrupt a surface.
  The dolphin broke the water by jumping into the air.
2. transitiveTo make by forcing one's way through.
  It's time to break a trail through the park.
3. transitiveTo force one's way through.
  Her promotion broke America's racial barriers.
4. datedintransitivetransitiveTo escape.
  She broke jail.
  1 more example
  He broke from prison.
5. intransitivetransitiveTo make an abrupt or sudden change; to change gait.
  to break into a run or gallop
6. transitiveTo (attempt to) disengage and flee to; to make a run for.
  1 more example
  As the last firing of the big guns begins to die down, the German light forces still fighting to the west begin to make their choices. Some break for the open sea; others run for the German-occupied coast; still others stand and die. A small group decide to strike their colors, in imitation of three of the larger German ships.
  2018 October 17, Drachinifel, 26:02 from the start, in Last Ride of the High Seas Fleet - Battle of Texel 1918, archived from the original on 04 Aug 2022
7. intransitivetransitiveTo burst forth; to make its way; to come into view.
  And from the turf a fountain broke, / And gurgled at our feet.
  1800, William Wordsworth, The Fountain
  1 more example
  The Clouds are ſtill above; and, while I ſpeak, / A ſecond deluge o'er our head may break.
  1717, John Dryden, “Book I. [The Gyants War.]”, in Ovid’s Metamorphoses in Fifteen Books. […], London: […] Jacob Tonson, […], →OCLC, page 16
8. intransitivetransitiveTo collapse into surf, after arriving in shallow water.
  There are many places on the reef that break during the summer.
  1966, Bruce Brown, director, The Endless Summer
9. transitiveTo solve a code or case.
  It's vital we break the code.
  2 more examples
  That news broke the case wide open.
  The detectives broke the Hamptons murder.
10. intransitivetransitiveTo go down, in terms of temperature, indicating that the most dangerous part of the illness has passed.
  Susan's fever broke at about 3 AM, and the doctor said the worst was over.
11. transitiveTo successfully treat or resist (a fever).
  The treatment broke my fever.
  1 more example
  Carl broke his fever this morning.
12. intransitivetransitiveTo end.
  The forecast says the hot weather will break by midweek.
13. intransitivetransitiveTo begin or end.
  We ran to find shelter before the storm broke.
  1 more example
  Around midday the storm broke, and the afternoon was calm and sunny.
14. intransitivetransitivedawn; day etc.; dawn; day etc.To arrive.
  Morning has broken.
  2 more examples
  The day broke crisp and clear.
  The day begins to break, and night is fled.
  1591 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The First Part of Henry the Sixt”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act II, scene ii]
15. intransitivetransitivehobbiesTo counter-attack.
  The Baggies almost hit back instantly when Graham Dorrans broke from midfield and pulled the trigger from 15 yards but Paul Robinson did superbly to tip the Scot's drive around the post.
  2010 December 28, Kevin Darlin, “West Brom 1 - 3 Blackburn”, in BBC
16. ergativetransitiveTo disclose or make known an item of news, a band, etc.
  When news of their divorce broke...
  4 more examples
  The newsman wanted to break a big story, something that would make him famous.
  I don’t know how to break this to you, but your cat is not coming back.
  Herman's Hermits version of 'I'm Into Something Good' topped the UK charts and also broke the band in the States.
  2010, Jon Kutner, Spencer Leigh, 1,000 UK Number One Hits
  “If something breaks during the day, work hours up until the evening, we’ll cut in — if we’re in the middle of, let’s say, a magazine program or a podcast on tape or a re-air of the game,” Radovich said.
  2023 March 8, Jonathan Tannenwald, “CBS is launching a 24/7 soccer channel online”, in The Philadelphia Inquirer
17. transitivecomputingTo cause, or allow the occurrence of, a line break.
  zero-width non-breaking space
  Synonyms: contravene
intransitivetransitiveTo stop, or to cause to stop, functioning properly or altogether.
Did you two break the trolley by racing with it?
1 more example
On the hottest day of the year the refrigerator broke.
1. intransitivetransitiveTo violate; to fail to adhere to.
  to break one’s word
  4 more examples
  When you go to Vancouver, promise me you won't break the law.
  He broke his vows by cheating on his wife.
  Time travel would break the laws of physics.
  Out, out Hyæna; theſe are thy wonted arts, [...] To break all faith, all vows, deceive, betray,
  1671, John Milton, “Samson Agonistes, […].”, in Paradise Regain’d. A Poem. In IV Books. To which is Added, Samson Agonistes, London: […] J[ohn] M[acock] for John Starkey […], →OCLC, page 48, lines 749–751
2. intransitiveslangtransitivegamesTo render (a game) unchallenging by altering its rules or exploiting loopholes or weaknesses in them in a way that gives a player an unfair advantage.
  Changing the rules to let white have three extra queens would break chess.
  1 more example
  I broke the RPG by training every member of my party to cast fireballs as well as use swords.
3. intransitivetransitiveTo prove a falsity.
  The detectives will break her alibi.
4. intransitivetransitiveTo cause (a barrier) to no longer bar; to rupture; to render a barrier ineffective.
  to break a seal
  3 more examples
  to break the skin
  to break a spell
  I'm a riddle so strong, you can't break me
  1992, “Rain When I Die”, performed by Alice in Chains
5. intransitivespecificallytransitiveTo cause the shell of (an egg) to crack, so that the inside (yolk) is accessible.
6. intransitivespecificallytransitiveTo open (a safe) without using the correct key, combination, or the like.
7. intransitivetransitiveTo destroy the arrangement of; to throw into disorder; to pierce.
  The cavalry were not able to break the British squares.
8. intransitivespecificallytransitiveTo cause (some feature of a program or piece of software) to stop functioning properly; to cause a regression.
  Adding 64-bit support broke backward compatibility with earlier versions.
9. intransitivetransitiveTo interrupt (a fall) by inserting something or by being place such that the falling object does not (immediately) hit something else beneath.
  He survived the jump out the window because the bushes below broke his fall.
10. intransitivetransitiveTo surpass or do better than (a specific number); to do better than (a record), setting a new record.
  He broke the men's 100-meter record.
  2 more examples
  I can't believe she broke 3 under par!
  The policeman broke sixty on a residential street in his hurry to catch the thief.
11. intransitivetransitivegolfTo do better than a specified value.
  He's hoping to break 90.
12. intransitivetransitiveAmerican footballTo get past defenders, resulting in a specified run.
  He broke a thirty-yard run.
13. intransitivetransitivecomputingTo terminate the execution of a program before normal completion.
14. intransitivetransitivecomputingTo suspend the execution of a program during debugging so that the state of the program can be investigated.
copulativeinformalTo suddenly become.
Things began breaking bad for him when his parents died.
2 more examples
The arrest was standard, when suddenly the suspect broke ugly.
Like the crash of thunderbolts…, the sound of musquetry broke over the lawn, ….
1. copulativeinformalintransitivetransitivecookingTo de-emulsify.
  If you cook it too long, coconut milk will break.
  3 more examples
  A microwave will create hot spots that can break the sauce.
  Conversely, as the emulsion breaks and the system returns to the original state, energy is released.
  2004, J. L. Atwood, Jonathan W. Steed, Encyclopedia of supramolecular chemistry, volume 2, page 1466
  When the droplets hit a solid wall the emulsion breaks instantly forming a bitumen on the wall and thus a layer up to 1 cm thick can be sprayed in one operation without requiring drying in between.
  2006, Johan Sjöblom, Emulsions and emulsion stability, volume 22, page 400
2. copulativeinformalintransitivetransitiveusuallyegg whitescookingTo become overwhipped and thus lose its texture.
3. copulativeinformalintransitiveTo become audible suddenly.
  c. 1843, George Lippard, The Battle-Day of Germantown, reprinted in Washington and His Generals "1776", page 45 http://google.com/books?id=EM-qNjWrI9YC&pg=PA45&dq=%22sound+of+musquetry%22:
4. copulativeinformalintransitiveTo become deeper at puberty.
5. copulativeinformalintransitiveTo alter in type due to emotion or strain: in men, generally to go up, in women, sometimes to go down; to crack.
  His voice breaks when he gets emotional.
  Synonyms: crack
6. copulativeinformalintransitiveTo interrupt or cease one's work or occupation temporarily; to go on break.
  Let's break for lunch.
7. copulativeinformalobsoletetransitiveTo lay open, as a purpose; to disclose, divulge, or communicate.
  Katharine, break thy mind to me.
  1599 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Life of Henry the Fift”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act V, scene ii]
engineeringTo open a break-action breechloader.

nounbreak (plural breaks)

plural breaks

An instance of breaking something into two or more pieces.
The femur has a clean break and so should heal easily.
Synonyms: split
A physical space that opens up in something or between two things.
The sun came out in a break in the clouds.
1 more example
He waited minutes for a break in the traffic to cross the highway.
Synonyms: breach, gap, space, gap, interlapse, interspace, interstice, interstitium
An interruption of continuity; departure from or rupture with something.
Work commenced at 2.30 p.m. on Saturday and continued without break until 4 a.m. on Monday morning, in the course of which three shifts of upwards of 90 men each and three steam cranes were employed.
1958 June 28, “New Track Layout and Marshalling Yard at Barking”, in Railway Magazine, page 428
1 more example
But the young activists of Move Forward outmanoeuvred the older party, and beat many of its candidates, with an imaginative, social media-based campaign offering voters a complete break with the past, and a different kind of political leadership.
2023 May 29, Jonathan Head, “Pita Limjaroenrat: Thai election upstart who vows to be different”, in BBC
A rest or pause, usually from work.
be on break
2 more examples
Let’s take a five-minute break.
get on break
Synonyms: shift break, time-out, breather, cessation, demurral, gap, caesura, hiatus
1. UKeducationA time for students to talk or play between lessons.
  It was playtime - or rather ‘break’ - and I had brazenly joined in a game of football on the school parade ground.
  1983, Bill Oddie, Gone Birding, London: Methuen, page 35
  Synonyms: shift break, time-out, breather, cessation, demurral, gap, caesura, hiatus
2. A scheduled interval of days or weeks between periods of school instruction; a holiday.
  winter break, spring break
  Synonyms: shift break, time-out, breather, cessation, demurral, gap, caesura, hiatus
A short holiday.
a weekend break on the Isle of Wight
Synonyms: day off, time off, annual leave, day off, getaway, holiday, leave, leave of absence
A temporary split with a romantic partner.
I think we need a break.
An interval or intermission between two parts of a performance, for example a theatre show, broadcast, or sports game.
But they marginally improved after the break as Didier Drogba hit the post.
2010 December 29, Chris Whyatt, “Chelsea 1 - 0 Bolton”, in BBC
A significant change in circumstance, attitude, perception, or focus of attention.
big break
2 more examples
lucky break, bad break
them's the breaks
businessA sudden fall in prices on the stock exchange.
Following the invasion of France by the Germans in May of 1940, the securities markets experienced a break in prices.
1947, Reports of the Tax Court of the United States, volume 8, page 459
The beginning (of the morning).
daybreak
1 more example
at the break of day
Synonyms: crack of dawn, ass crack of dawn, break of dawn, break of day, butt crack of dawn, cockcrow, crack of dawn, dawn
An act of escaping.
prison break
2 more examples
to make a break for it; to make a break for the door
It was a clean break.
computingThe separation between lines, paragraphs or pages of a written text.
No matter how much text you add above the break, the text after the break will always appear at the top of a new page.
2001, Nan Barber, David Reynolds, Office 2001 for Macintosh: The Missing Manual, page 138
computingA keystroke or other signal that causes a program to terminate or suspend execution.
abbreviationellipsiscomputingEllipsis of breakpoint.
UKclimatologyA change, particularly the end of a spell of persistent good or bad weather.
gamesA game won by the receiving player(s).
ball gamesThe first shot in a game of billiards.
ball gamesThe number of points scored by one player in one visit to the table.
ball gamesThe counter-attack.
Blackpool were not without their opportunities - thanks to their willingness to commit and leave men forward even when under severe pressure - and they looked very capable of scoring on the break.
2010 December 28, Owen Phillips, “Sunderland 0 - 2 Blackpool”, in BBC
gamesThe curve imparted to the ball's motion on the green due to slope or grass texture.
gamesA place where waves break (that is, where waves pitch or spill forward creating white water).
The final break in the Greenmount area is Kirra Point.
1 more example
One of the most popular summer breaks is just off to one side of the Ala Wai Yacht Harbor entrance, a spot called Ala Moana.
1966, Bruce Brown, director, The Endless Summer
gamesThe start of a horse race.
Cigar was distracted at the break and let his five opponents get the jump.
1999, Jay Hovdey, Cigar: America's Horse, page 63
1 more example
Perhaps it stumbles to its knees at the break, effectively losing the race at the outset.
2010, John Alexander, Exotic Wagering the Winning Way, page 60
gamesThe opening of packages of cards for a collectible card game, often for further distribution to paying customers.
datedA large four-wheeled carriage, having a straight body and calash top, with the driver's seat in front and the footman's behind.
alternativeAlternative form of brake (“cart or carriage without a body, for breaking in horses”)
equitationA sharp bit or snaffle.
Pampered jades […] which need nor break nor bit.
1576, George Gascoigne, The Steele Glas
entertainmentA short section of music, often between verses, in which some performers stop while others continue.
The fiddle break was amazing; it was a pity the singer came back in on the wrong note.
1 more example
The effect was weird, because with that intuitive sense possessed by the African, every drummer knew exactly when the “breaks” were coming, and whole banks of bass drums would drop out precisely on the beat.
1937, Ivan T. Sanderson, Animal Treasure, page 233
entertainmentThe point in the musical scale at which a woodwind instrument is designed to overblow, that is, to move from its lower to its upper register.
Crossing the break smoothly is one of the first lessons the young clarinettist needs to master.
entertainmentThe transition area between a singer's vocal registers; the passaggio.
The point of division between the two vocal registers is most frequently referred to as the register’s break.
2007, S. Anthony Frisella, The Baritone Voice: A Personal Guide to Acquiring a Superior Singing Technique, page 14
2 more examples
34. Of the Registers of the Voice - All singers have observed that there are certain parts of the Vocal Scale where a break, as it is called, seldom fails to occur.
1862, John Winebrenner, The Serephina, Or, Christian Library of Church Music, page 13
Boys should continue in their high voice, across the break to the lower range, and end up with a voice that doesn’t have a break (Leck, 2009).
2018, Karen Brunssen, The Evolving Singing Voice: Changes Across the Lifespan, page 76
in pluralgeographyAn area along a river that features steep banks, bluffs, or gorges (e.g., Upper Missouri River Breaks National Monument, US).
obsoleteslangAn error.First known use late 19th–early 20th c.
"Maybe he will some day," says the Missus, and then her and Bessie pretended like they'd made a break and was embarrassed.
1916, Ring W. Lardner, “Three Kings and a Pair”, in The Saturday Evening Post
businessA crease or fold arising where the pants leg reaches the shoe.
A full break or even multiple breaks is an older, more conservative style, as modern pants often end well above the shoe, so there is no break.

break²

nounbreak (plural breaks)

plural breaks

entertainmentA section of extended repetition of the percussion break to a song, created by a hip-hop DJ as rhythmic dance music.
The smooth criminal on beat breaks / Never put me in your box if your shit eats tapes
1994, “N.Y. State of Mind”, in Illmatic, performed by Nas

verbbreak (third-person singular simple present breaks, present participle breaking, simple past and past participle breaked)

present singular third person breaks · participle present breaking · participle past breaked · past breaked

slangentertainmentTo B-boy; to breakdance.
Let the poppers pop and the breakers break / We're cool, cool cats, it's like that
1985, “King of Rock”, performed by Run-DMC
raremainly historical or a misspellingTo brake.
Breaking heavily, now on a 1 in 39 gradient, the train makes as if to cross the Tamar at once, only to swing sharply to the right, […].
1951 July, R. E. G. Read, “From Bere Alston to Callington”, in Railway Magazine, page 482

Synonyms & antonyms

verbTo turn an animal into a beast of burden.

Similar

break in

verbTo cause, or allow the occurrence of, a line break.

Similar

contravene

verbTo alter in type due to emotion or strain: in men, generally to go up, in women, sometimes to go down; to crack.

Similar

crack

nounAn instance of breaking something into two or more pieces.

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split

nounA physical space that opens up in something or between two things.

nounA rest or pause, usually from work.

nounA time for students to talk or play between lessons.

nounA scheduled interval of days or weeks between periods of school instruction; a holiday.

nounA short holiday.

nounThe beginning (of the morning).

ergative: separate into two or more pieces

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burst

intransitive: stop functioning

Similar

break down

antonym(s) of

Opposite

assemble hold

Opposite

fix join mend put together repair

More synonyms by meaning

nounsome abrupt occurrence that interrupts an ongoing activity

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interruption

Broader

happening occurrence occurrent

nounan unexpected piece of good luck

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good luckhappy chance

Broader

accident stroke fortuity

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

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fault faultinggeological faultshift fracture

Broader

crack cleft crevice

nouna personal or social separation (as between opposing factions)

Broader

separation breakup detachment

nouna pause from doing something (as work)

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respite recess time out

Broader

pause

nounthe act of breaking something

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breakage breaking

Broader

change of integrity

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

Broader

time interval interval

nounbreaking of hard tissue such as bone

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fracture

Broader

injury hurt harm

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

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break of serve

Broader

score

nounan act of delaying or interrupting the continuity

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interruption disruption gap

Broader

delay holdup

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

Similar

open frame

Broader

score

nounan escape from jail

Similar

breakout jailbreak gaolbreakprisonbreakprison-breaking

Broader

escape flight

verbterminate or end

Similar

interrupt

Broader

end terminate

verbbecome separated into pieces or fragments

Similar

separate split up fall apart come apart

Broader

change integrity

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

break · verb, noun

Proto-Indo-European*bʰreg-
Proto-Indo-European*bʰrégeti
Proto-Germanic*brekaną
Proto-West Germanic*brekan
Old Englishbrecan
Middle Englishbreken
Englishbreak

From Middle English breken, from Old English brecan (“to break”), from Proto-West Germanic *brekan, from Proto-Germanic *brekaną (“to break”), from Proto-Indo-European *bʰreg- (“to break”). Doublet of bray. Cognates Cognates of Germanic origin include Scots brek (“to break”), West Frisian brekke (“to break”), Dutch breken (“to break”), Low German breken (“to break”), German brechen (“to break”), French broyer (“to crush, grind”), Gothic 𐌱𐍂𐌹𐌺𐌰𐌽 (brikan, “to break, destroy”), Norwegian brek (“desire, yearning”). Also cognate with Albanian brishtë (“fragile”), Latin frangō (“break, break up, shatter”, verb), whence English fracture and other terms – fragile, frail, fraction, and fragment. The modern pronunciation shows an irregular change of Early Modern English /ɛː/ to /eɪ/ in the standard language; contrast this with the development of other words such as speak and wreak.

More words from Middle English, Old English, Proto-West Germanic

Full word history & related roots →

break · noun, verb

Proto-Indo-European*bʰreg-
Proto-Indo-European*bʰrégeti
Proto-Germanic*brekaną
Proto-West Germanic*brekan
Old Englishbrecan
Middle Englishbreken
Englishbreak
Old Englishof-
Proto-Germanic*dūnaz?
Proto-Indo-European*dewh₂-
Proto-Indo-European*duh₂-nós?
Proto-Celtic*dūnomder.?
Proto-West Germanic*dūnā
Old Englishdūne
Old Englishofdūne
Old Englishadūne
Old Englishdūne
Middle Englishdoun
Englishdown
Englishbreak downdeverb.
Englishbreakdownclip.
Englishbreak

Clipping of breakdown (the percussion break of songs chosen by a DJ for use in hip-hop music) and see also breakdancing.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Afrikaans breek, breuk

breekintransitive: to separate into (to end up in) two or more pieces
breukrest or pause, usually from work

Ancient Greek ῥήγνυμαι, ῥήγνυμι

ῥήγνυμαι (rhḗgnumai)intransitive: to separate into (to end up in) two or more pieces
ῥήγνυμι (rhḗgnumi)transitive: to separate into (to cause to end up in) two or more pieces
ἀνάπαυσις (anápausis)rest or pause, usually from work

Arabic اِنْكَسَرَ, كَسَرَ

اِنْكَسَرَ (inkasara)intransitive: to separate into (to end up in) two or more pieces
كَسَرَ (kasara)transitive: to separate into (to cause to end up in) two or more pieces
اِسْتِرَاحَة (istirāḥa)rest or pause, usually from work

Basque puskatu, hautsi

puskatuintransitive: to separate into (to end up in) two or more pieces
hautsiintransitive: to separate into (to end up in) two or more pieces
apurtuintransitive: to separate into (to end up in) two or more pieces
puskatutransitive: to separate into (to cause to end up in) two or more pieces

Bulgarian разбивам, пробивам

разбивам (razbivam)billiards: to make the first shot
пробивам (probivam)to win a game as receiver in tennis
разбивам се (razbivam se)of a wave, to collapse into a surf
пуквам (pukvam)of morning: to arrive
нарушавам (narušavam)transitive: to do that which is forbidden by (something)
чупя се (čupja se)intransitive, of a bone: to crack
прекъсвам (prekăsvam)to interrupt or cease one's work or occupation temporarily
чу́пя се (čúpja se)intransitive: to separate into (to end up in) two or more pieces
чу́пя (čúpja)transitive: to separate into (to cause to end up in) two or more pieces
чу́пя (čúpja)transitive: to cause (a bone) to crack
разбивам (razbivam)to divide (money) into smaller units
развалям се (razvaljam se)intransitive: to stop functioning properly or altogether
счу́пване (sčúpvane)instance of breaking something into pieces
цепнатина́ (cepnatiná)physical space that opens up in something or between two things
пукнатина́ (puknatiná)physical space that opens up in something or between two things
про́бив (próbiv)tennis: game won by receiving party
разби́ване (razbívane)billiards, snooker: first shot
прибо́й (pribój)surfing: place where waves break
па́уза (páuza)rest or pause, usually from work
междуча́сие (meždučásie)rest or pause, usually from work

Catalan trencar el servei, escapar-se

trencar el serveito win a game as receiver in tennis
escapar-seto counter-attack
internar-seto counter-attack
trencar-seintransitive: to separate into (to end up in) two or more pieces
rompre'sintransitive: to separate into (to end up in) two or more pieces
trencartransitive: to separate into (to cause to end up in) two or more pieces
rompretransitive: to separate into (to cause to end up in) two or more pieces
escapadaact of escaping
entradabilliards, snooker: first shot
escapadasoccer: counter-attack

Chinese Mandarin 破戒, 犯戒

破戒 (pòjiè)transitive: to do that which is forbidden by (something)
犯戒 (fànjiè)transitive: to do that which is forbidden by (something)
折 (zhé)intransitive, of a bone: to crack
骨折 (gǔzhé)intransitive, of a bone: to crack
打破 (dǎpò)intransitive: to separate into (to end up in) two or more pieces
打破 (dǎpò)transitive: to separate into (to cause to end up in) two or more pieces
破 (pò)to divide (money) into smaller units
壞 /坏 (huài)intransitive: to stop functioning properly or altogether
破坏 (pòhuài)transitive: to cause to stop functioning
损坏 (sǔnhuài)transitive: to cause to stop functioning
休息 (xiūxí)rest or pause, usually from work

Czech porušit, mutovat

porušittransitive: to do that which is forbidden by (something)
mutovatof a male voice, to become deeper at puberty
zlomit siintransitive, of a bone: to crack
dát si přestávkuto interrupt or cease one's work or occupation temporarily
přestatto interrupt or cease one's work or occupation temporarily
přerušitto interrupt or cease one's work or occupation temporarily
rozbít seintransitive: to separate into (to end up in) two or more pieces
zlomit seintransitive: to separate into (to end up in) two or more pieces
rozbíttransitive: to separate into (to cause to end up in) two or more pieces
zlomittransitive: to separate into (to cause to end up in) two or more pieces
rozměnitto divide (money) into smaller units
rozbít seintransitive: to stop functioning properly or altogether
přestávkarest or pause, usually from work
pauzarest or pause, usually from work

Danish degradere, bryde

degradereto reduce the military rank of
brydeto win a game as receiver in tennis
ruinereto ruin financially
knækketo counter-attack
brydetransitive: to do that which is forbidden by (something)
krænketransitive: to do that which is forbidden by (something)
ødelæggegaming: to design or make a powerful, unbalancing but legal move
brækkeintransitive, of a bone: to crack
holde pauseto interrupt or cease one's work or occupation temporarily
pauseto interrupt or cease one's work or occupation temporarily
gå i stykkerintransitive: to separate into (to end up in) two or more pieces
gå ituintransitive: to separate into (to end up in) two or more pieces
brudinstance of breaking something into pieces
åbningphysical space that opens up in something or between two things
hulphysical space that opens up in something or between two things
afbrudtemporary split in romantic relationship
pauseinterval between two parts of performance
breaktennis: game won by receiving party
kontrasoccer: counter-attack
pauserest or pause, usually from work

Dutch breken, overtreden

brekentransitive: to do that which is forbidden by (something)
overtredentransitive: to do that which is forbidden by (something)
brekenintransitive, of a bone: to crack
pauzerento interrupt or cease one's work or occupation temporarily
brekenintransitive: to separate into (to end up in) two or more pieces
brekentransitive: to separate into (to cause to end up in) two or more pieces
brekentransitive: to cause (a bone) to crack
verdelento divide (money) into smaller units
stukgaanintransitive: to stop functioning properly or altogether
kapotgaanintransitive: to stop functioning properly or altogether
kapotmakentransitive: to cause to stop functioning
stukmakentransitive: to cause to stop functioning
pauzerest or pause, usually from work

Esperanto panei, rompi

paneiintransitive, of a bone: to crack
rompiintransitive: to separate into (to end up in) two or more pieces
rompiĝiintransitive: to separate into (to end up in) two or more pieces
rompitransitive: to separate into (to cause to end up in) two or more pieces
paŭzorest or pause, usually from work

Estonian rikkuma, murduma

rikkumatransitive: to do that which is forbidden by (something)
murdumaintransitive: to separate into (to end up in) two or more pieces
murdmatransitive: to separate into (to cause to end up in) two or more pieces

Finnish aloittaa, breikata

aloittaabilliards: to make the first shot
breikatabilliards: to make the first shot
kesyttääto turn an animal into a beast of burden
alentaato reduce the military rank of
murtaato win a game as receiver in tennis
katkaistato end a connection
kaataato ruin financially
murtuaof a wave, to collapse into a surf
koittaaof morning: to arrive
murtautuato counter-attack
uutisoidato disclose or make known an item of news
kertoato disclose or make known an item of news
murtumainstance of breaking something into pieces
murtamineninstance of breaking something into pieces
särkemineninstance of breaking something into pieces
särkymineninstance of breaking something into pieces
rikkomineninstance of breaking something into pieces
rikkoutumineninstance of breaking something into pieces
aukkophysical space that opens up in something or between two things
taukotemporary split in romantic relationship
väliaikainterval between two parts of performance
taukointerval between two parts of performance
murrossignificant change in circumstance
käännesignificant change in circumstance

French débourrer, dégrader

débourrerto turn an animal into a beast of burden
dégraderto reduce the military rank of
déconnecterto end a connection
rompreto end a connection
ruinerto ruin financially
riposterto counter-attack
contre-attaquerto counter-attack
publierto disclose or make known an item of news
révélerto disclose or make known an item of news
outrepassertransitive: to do that which is forbidden by (something)
bourrinergaming: to design or make a powerful, unbalancing but legal move
se casserintransitive, of a bone: to crack
casseinstance of breaking something into pieces
espacephysical space that opens up in something or between two things
ouverturephysical space that opens up in something or between two things
pausetemporary split in romantic relationship
entracteinterval between two parts of performance
aubebeginning of morning
évasionact of escaping
pauserest or pause, usually from work
changementchange in weather

German anstoßen, den Eröffnungsstoß haben

anstoßenbilliards: to make the first shot
den Eröffnungsstoß habenbilliards: to make the first shot
zähmento turn an animal into a beast of burden
zureitento turn an animal into a beast of burden
degradierento reduce the military rank of
einen Break machento win a game as receiver in tennis
abbrechento end a connection
unterbrechento end a connection
zugrunde richtento ruin financially
brechenof a wave, to collapse into a surf
anbrechenof morning: to arrive
dämmernof morning: to arrive
Bruchinstance of breaking something into pieces
Öffnungphysical space that opens up in something or between two things
Spaltphysical space that opens up in something or between two things
Beziehungspausetemporary split in romantic relationship
Unterbrechunginterval between two parts of performance
Pauseinterval between two parts of performance
Wechselsignificant change in circumstance
Umbruchsignificant change in circumstance
Bruchsignificant change in circumstance
Anbruchbeginning of morning
Ausbruchact of escaping
Breaktennis: game won by receiving party

Greek σπάω, σπάω

σπάω (spáo)billiards: to make the first shot
σπάω (spáo)intransitive: to separate into (to end up in) two or more pieces
χαλάω (chaláo)intransitive: to separate into (to end up in) two or more pieces
σπάζω (spázo)transitive: to separate into (to cause to end up in) two or more pieces
χαλάω (chaláo)to divide (money) into smaller units
χαλάω (chaláo)intransitive: to stop functioning properly or altogether
χαλάω (chaláo)transitive: to cause to stop functioning
διάλειμμα (diáleimma)rest or pause, usually from work

Hebrew שבירה, הפר

שבירהto win a game as receiver in tennis
הפר (hefér)transitive: to do that which is forbidden by (something)
נשבר (nishbár)intransitive, of a bone: to crack
נשבר (nishbár)intransitive: to separate into (to end up in) two or more pieces
שָׁבַר (shavár)transitive: to separate into (to cause to end up in) two or more pieces
שבר (shavár)transitive: to cause (a bone) to crack
התקלקל (hitkalkél)intransitive: to stop functioning properly or altogether
שבר (shavár)transitive: to cause to stop functioning
שְׁבִירָה (sh'virá)instance of breaking something into pieces

Hindi अंतराल, टूटना

अंतराल (antrāl)intransitive: to separate into (to end up in) two or more pieces
टूटना (ṭūṭnā)transitive: to separate into (to cause to end up in) two or more pieces

Hungarian betör, lefokoz

betörto turn an animal into a beast of burden
lefokozto reduce the military rank of
tönkreteszto ruin financially
csődbe juttatto ruin financially
csődbe viszto ruin financially
megtörikof a wave, to collapse into a surf
virradof morning: to arrive
hajnalodikof morning: to arrive
közölto disclose or make known an item of news
megszegtransitive: to do that which is forbidden by (something)
szegtransitive: to do that which is forbidden by (something)
megsérttransitive: to do that which is forbidden by (something)
kiállásmusic: short section of music in which some performers stop
szünetrest or pause, usually from work

Icelandic brotna, brjóta

brotnaof a wave, to collapse into a surf
brjótatransitive: to do that which is forbidden by (something)
brotnaintransitive, of a bone: to crack
brotnaintransitive: to separate into (to end up in) two or more pieces
brjótatransitive: to cause (a bone) to crack
brjótaintransitive: to stop functioning properly or altogether
skemmatransitive: to cause to stop functioning
eyðileggjatransitive: to cause to stop functioning

Indonesian patah, mematahkan

patahintransitive: to separate into (to end up in) two or more pieces
mematahkantransitive: to separate into (to cause to end up in) two or more pieces
memutuskantransitive: to separate into (to cause to end up in) two or more pieces

Irish bris, bris

brisintransitive, of a bone: to crack
brisintransitive: to separate into (to end up in) two or more pieces
bristransitive: to separate into (to cause to end up in) two or more pieces
bristransitive: to cause (a bone) to crack
brisintransitive: to stop functioning properly or altogether
bristransitive: to cause to stop functioning
sosrest or pause, usually from work

Italian addomesticare, sottomettere

addomesticareto turn an animal into a beast of burden
sottomettereto turn an animal into a beast of burden
degradareto reduce the military rank of
retrocedereto reduce the military rank of
terminareto end a connection
interrompereto end a connection
staccareto end a connection
sconnettereto end a connection
fare fallireto ruin financially
eliminareto ruin financially
chiudereto ruin financially
infrangersiof a wave, to collapse into a surf
passaggiomusic: a transition area between a singer’s vocal registers
pausarest or pause, usually from work
sostarest or pause, usually from work

Japanese ブレークする, ブレークを取る

ブレークする (burēku suru)billiards: to make the first shot
ブレークを取る (burēku o toru)to win a game as receiver in tennis
破る (yaburu)transitive: to do that which is forbidden by (something)
犯す (okasu)transitive: to do that which is forbidden by (something)
ひびが入る (hibi ga hairu)intransitive, of a bone: to crack
折れる (oreru)intransitive, of a bone: to crack
休憩する (kyūkei suru)to interrupt or cease one's work or occupation temporarily
割れる (wareru)intransitive: to separate into (to end up in) two or more pieces
散らばる (chirabaru)intransitive: to separate into (to end up in) two or more pieces
割る (waru)transitive: to separate into (to cause to end up in) two or more pieces
壊す (kowasu)transitive: to separate into (to cause to end up in) two or more pieces
砕く (kudaku)transitive: to separate into (to cause to end up in) two or more pieces
割れ目 (wareme)physical space that opens up in something or between two things
隙間 (sukima)physical space that opens up in something or between two things
ブレーク (burēku)tennis: game won by receiving party
ブレーク (burēku)billiards, snooker: first shot
休憩 (kyūkei)rest or pause, usually from work

Korean 쉬다, 쉬다

쉬다 (swida)billiards: to make the first shot
쉬다 (swida)to win a game as receiver in tennis
까발리다 (kkaballida)to disclose or make known an item of news
깨다 (kkaeda)transitive: to do that which is forbidden by (something)
잔꾀부리다 (jankkoeburida)gaming: to design or make a powerful, unbalancing but legal move
부러지다 (bureojida)intransitive, of a bone: to crack
쉬다 (swida)to interrupt or cease one's work or occupation temporarily
부러지다 (bureojida)intransitive: to separate into (to end up in) two or more pieces
깨트리다 (kkaeteurida)transitive: to separate into (to cause to end up in) two or more pieces
부러뜨리다 (bureotteurida)transitive: to separate into (to cause to end up in) two or more pieces
부수다 (busuda)transitive: to separate into (to cause to end up in) two or more pieces
부러뜨리다 (bureotteurida)transitive: to cause (a bone) to crack
휴게 (hyuge)rest or pause, usually from work

Latin cōnfringō, frangō

cōnfringōintransitive: to separate into (to end up in) two or more pieces
frangōintransitive: to separate into (to end up in) two or more pieces
rumpōintransitive: to separate into (to end up in) two or more pieces
cōnfringōtransitive: to separate into (to cause to end up in) two or more pieces
frangōtransitive: to separate into (to cause to end up in) two or more pieces
rumpōtransitive: to separate into (to cause to end up in) two or more pieces

Latvian pārkāpt, salūzt

pārkāpttransitive: to do that which is forbidden by (something)
salūztintransitive, of a bone: to crack
lūztintransitive, of a bone: to crack
paņemt pārtraukumuto interrupt or cease one's work or occupation temporarily
salūztintransitive: to separate into (to end up in) two or more pieces
lūztintransitive: to separate into (to end up in) two or more pieces
salauzttransitive: to separate into (to cause to end up in) two or more pieces
lauzttransitive: to separate into (to cause to end up in) two or more pieces
salauzttransitive: to cause (a bone) to crack
lauzttransitive: to cause (a bone) to crack
salūztintransitive: to stop functioning properly or altogether
lūztintransitive: to stop functioning properly or altogether
lūšanainstance of breaking something into pieces
lūzumsphysical space that opens up in something or between two things
pārtraukumsrest or pause, usually from work

Lithuanian sulaužyti, sulaužyti

sulaužytiintransitive: to separate into (to end up in) two or more pieces
sulaužytitransitive: to separate into (to cause to end up in) two or more pieces
pertraukarest or pause, usually from work
pauzėrest or pause, usually from work

Māori whakararata, pereki

whakararatato turn an animal into a beast of burden
perekito turn an animal into a beast of burden
whakapēkeraputo ruin financially
pōrutuof a wave, to collapse into a surf
hotuof morning: to arrive
pekehāwanitransitive: to do that which is forbidden by (something)
takahitransitive: to do that which is forbidden by (something)
whatiintransitive, of a bone: to crack
whakakaurapatransitive: to cause to stop functioning
puapuasurfing: place where waves break
tūāteasurfing: place where waves break

Norwegian Bokmål brudd, åpning

bruddinstance of breaking something into pieces
åpningphysical space that opens up in something or between two things
hullphysical space that opens up in something or between two things
avbrekktemporary split in romantic relationship
pauseinterval between two parts of performance
breaktennis: game won by receiving party
gjenvinningsoccer: counter-attack

Persian شکستن, خرد کردن

شکستن (šekastan)transitive: to do that which is forbidden by (something)
خرد کردن (xord kardan)intransitive: to separate into (to end up in) two or more pieces
شکستن (šekastan)intransitive: to separate into (to end up in) two or more pieces
شکستن (šekastan)transitive: to separate into (to cause to end up in) two or more pieces
خرد کردن (xord kardan)to divide (money) into smaller units
خراب کردن (xarâb kardan)transitive: to cause to stop functioning

Polish rujnować, zrujnować

rujnowaćto ruin financially
zrujnowaćto ruin financially
rozbijać sięof a wave, to collapse into a surf
rozbić sięof a wave, to collapse into a surf
złamać sięintransitive, of a bone: to crack
łamać sięintransitive: to separate into (to end up in) two or more pieces
złamać sięintransitive: to separate into (to end up in) two or more pieces
rozbić sięintransitive: to separate into (to end up in) two or more pieces
połamać sięintransitive: to separate into (to end up in) two or more pieces
łamaćtransitive: to separate into (to cause to end up in) two or more pieces
złamaćtransitive: to separate into (to cause to end up in) two or more pieces
rozbijaćtransitive: to separate into (to cause to end up in) two or more pieces
ucieczkaact of escaping
przełamanietennis: game won by receiving party
przerwarest or pause, usually from work

Portuguese domar, separar

domarto turn an animal into a beast of burden
separarto end a connection
desligarto end a connection
quebrarto ruin financially
quebrarof a wave, to collapse into a surf
desrespeitartransitive: to do that which is forbidden by (something)
violartransitive: to do that which is forbidden by (something)
quebrarintransitive, of a bone: to crack
partirintransitive, of a bone: to crack
falharof a voice, to alter in type due to emotion or strain [existing translations are to be checked, whether they belong to the previous sense]
pausarto interrupt or cease one's work or occupation temporarily
quebrarintransitive: to separate into (to end up in) two or more pieces
quebrainstance of breaking something into pieces
fendaphysical space that opens up in something or between two things
frestaphysical space that opens up in something or between two things
tempotemporary split in romantic relationship
fugaact of escaping
pausarest or pause, usually from work

Romanian rupe, frânge

rupetransitive: to separate into (to cause to end up in) two or more pieces
frângetransitive: to separate into (to cause to end up in) two or more pieces
sfărâmatransitive: to separate into (to cause to end up in) two or more pieces
crăpatransitive: to separate into (to cause to end up in) two or more pieces
frângetransitive: to cause (a bone) to crack
întrerupereinstance of breaking something into pieces
rupereinstance of breaking something into pieces
rupturăinstance of breaking something into pieces
fracturăinstance of breaking something into pieces
crăpăturăphysical space that opens up in something or between two things
spațiu (gol)physical space that opens up in something or between two things
deschiderephysical space that opens up in something or between two things
spărturăphysical space that opens up in something or between two things
pauzărest or pause, usually from work

Russian разбить, разрывать

разбить (razbitʹ)billiards: to make the first shot
разрывать (razryvatʹ)to end a connection
разорвать (razorvatʹ)to end a connection
разоря́ть (razorjátʹ)to ruin financially
разори́ть (razorítʹ)to ruin financially
раскрыть (raskrytʹ)to disclose or make known an item of news
наруша́ть (narušátʹ)transitive: to do that which is forbidden by (something)
нару́шить (narúšitʹ)transitive: to do that which is forbidden by (something)
ломаться (lomatʹsja)of a male voice, to become deeper at puberty
лома́ться (lomátʹsja)intransitive, of a bone: to crack
слома́ться (slomátʹsja)intransitive, of a bone: to crack
де́лать переры́в (délatʹ pererýv)to interrupt or cease one's work or occupation temporarily
разло́м (razlóm)physical space that opens up in something or between two things
поворо́т (povorót)significant change in circumstance
побе́г (pobég)act of escaping
разбо́й (razbój)billiards, snooker: first shot
переры́в (pererýv)rest or pause, usually from work

Scottish Gaelic bris, bris

bristransitive: to do that which is forbidden by (something)
brisintransitive, of a bone: to crack
brisintransitive: to separate into (to end up in) two or more pieces
bristransitive: to separate into (to cause to end up in) two or more pieces
bristransitive: to cause (a bone) to crack
brisintransitive: to stop functioning properly or altogether
bristransitive: to cause to stop functioning

Slovak skrotiť, krotiť

skrotiťto turn an animal into a beast of burden
krotiťto turn an animal into a beast of burden
prerušiťto end a connection
rozdeliťto end a connection
odpojiťto end a connection
zruinovaťto ruin financially
lámať saof a wave, to collapse into a surf
začaťof morning: to arrive
porušiťtransitive: to do that which is forbidden by (something)
zlomiť saintransitive, of a bone: to crack
rozbiť saintransitive: to separate into (to end up in) two or more pieces
zlomiť saintransitive: to separate into (to end up in) two or more pieces
lominstance of breaking something into pieces
zlominstance of breaking something into pieces
zlomeninainstance of breaking something into pieces
medzeraphysical space that opens up in something or between two things
prestávkatemporary split in romantic relationship
zlomsignificant change in circumstance
zmenasignificant change in circumstance
úsvitbeginning of morning
svitaniebeginning of morning
začiatokbeginning of morning
útekact of escaping
pomlčkamusic: short section of music in which some performers stop

Spanish domar, desbravar

domarto turn an animal into a beast of burden
desbravarto turn an animal into a beast of burden
amansarto turn an animal into a beast of burden
romperof a wave, to collapse into a surf
conculcartransitive: to do that which is forbidden by (something)
quebrantartransitive: to do that which is forbidden by (something)
romperintransitive, of a bone: to crack
quebrarintransitive, of a bone: to crack
romperseintransitive: to separate into (to end up in) two or more pieces
rompertransitive: to separate into (to cause to end up in) two or more pieces
quebrartransitive: to separate into (to cause to end up in) two or more pieces
escrachartransitive: to separate into (to cause to end up in) two or more pieces
rupturainstance of breaking something into pieces
descansorest or pause, usually from work
reposorest or pause, usually from work
asuetorest or pause, usually from work
quieterest or pause, usually from work

Swahili kuvunjika, kuvunja

kuvunjikaintransitive: to stop functioning properly or altogether
kuvunjatransitive: to cause to stop functioning

Swedish spränga, bryta

sprängabilliards: to make the first shot
brytaof a wave, to collapse into a surf
brytatransitive: to do that which is forbidden by (something)
brytasintransitive, of a bone: to crack
avbrytato interrupt or cease one's work or occupation temporarily
brytato interrupt or cease one's work or occupation temporarily
gå sönderintransitive: to separate into (to end up in) two or more pieces
brytatransitive: to separate into (to cause to end up in) two or more pieces
ta isärtransitive: to separate into (to cause to end up in) two or more pieces
ha isärtransitive: to separate into (to cause to end up in) two or more pieces
slå söndertransitive: to separate into (to cause to end up in) two or more pieces
brytatransitive: to cause (a bone) to crack
brottinstance of breaking something into pieces
breaktennis: game won by receiving party
avbrottrest or pause, usually from work
rastrest or pause, usually from work
pausrest or pause, usually from work

Tagalog mabali, mabasag

mabaliintransitive, of a bone: to crack
mabasagintransitive: to separate into (to end up in) two or more pieces
basagintransitive: to separate into (to cause to end up in) two or more pieces
baliintransitive: to cause (a bone) to crack
hatiinto divide (money) into smaller units
masiraintransitive: to stop functioning properly or altogether
siraintransitive: to cause to stop functioning
pugtophysical space that opens up in something or between two things
tayongrest or pause, usually from work

Tamil இடைவெளி

இடைவெளி (iṭaiveḷi)interval between two parts of performance

Thai ละเมิด, ฝ่าฝืน

ละเมิด (lá-mə̂ət)transitive: to do that which is forbidden by (something)
ฝ่าฝืน (fàa-fʉ̌ʉn)transitive: to do that which is forbidden by (something)
หัก (hàk)intransitive, of a bone: to crack
ร้าว (ráao)intransitive, of a bone: to crack
หยุด (yùt)to interrupt or cease one's work or occupation temporarily
พักผ่อน (pák-pɔ̀n)to interrupt or cease one's work or occupation temporarily
แตก (dtɛ̀ɛk)intransitive: to separate into (to end up in) two or more pieces
พัง (pang)intransitive: to separate into (to end up in) two or more pieces
หัก (hàk)intransitive: to separate into (to end up in) two or more pieces
หัก (hàk)transitive: to separate into (to cause to end up in) two or more pieces
หัก (hàk)transitive: to cause (a bone) to crack
แตก (dtɛ̀ɛk)to divide (money) into smaller units

Turkish servis kırmak, kırılmak

servis kırmakto win a game as receiver in tennis
kırılmakintransitive: to separate into (to end up in) two or more pieces
kırmakintransitive: to separate into (to end up in) two or more pieces
kırmaktransitive: to separate into (to cause to end up in) two or more pieces
bozmakto divide (money) into smaller units
bozulmakintransitive: to stop functioning properly or altogether
bozmaktransitive: to cause to stop functioning
kırmakto do better than a record
serisnooker: number of points in one visit
ararest or pause, usually from work

Ukrainian пору́шувати, робит́и пере́рву

пору́шувати (porúšuvaty)transitive: to do that which is forbidden by (something)
робит́и пере́рву (robyt́y perérvu)to interrupt or cease one's work or occupation temporarily
пере́рва (perérva)to interrupt or cease one's work or occupation temporarily
ламати (lamaty)intransitive: to separate into (to end up in) two or more pieces
зламати (zlamaty)intransitive: to separate into (to end up in) two or more pieces
розбива́ти (rozbyváty)transitive: to separate into (to cause to end up in) two or more pieces
розби́ти (rozbýty)transitive: to separate into (to cause to end up in) two or more pieces
лама́ти (lamáty)transitive: to separate into (to cause to end up in) two or more pieces
злама́ти (zlamáty)transitive: to separate into (to cause to end up in) two or more pieces
пере́рва (perérva)rest or pause, usually from work

Urdu ٹوٹنا, وقفہ

ٹوٹنا (ṭūṭnā)transitive: to separate into (to cause to end up in) two or more pieces
وقفہ (waqfa)rest or pause, usually from work

Vietnamese vỡ giọng, bị bể

vỡ giọngof a male voice, to become deeper at puberty
bị bểintransitive: to separate into (to end up in) two or more pieces
làm bểtransitive: to separate into (to cause to end up in) two or more pieces
hỏngintransitive: to stop functioning properly or altogether
nghỉrest or pause, usually from work
giải laorest or pause, usually from work

Welsh torri, ymdorri

torriintransitive, of a bone: to crack
ymdorriintransitive, of a bone: to crack
torriintransitive: to separate into (to end up in) two or more pieces
torritransitive: to separate into (to cause to end up in) two or more pieces
torritransitive: to cause (a bone) to crack
toriadinstance of breaking something into pieces
toriadphysical space that opens up in something or between two things
toriadinterval between two parts of performance
toriadrest or pause, usually from work

Yiddish צעברעכן, צעברעכן

צעברעכן (tsebrekhn)intransitive: to separate into (to end up in) two or more pieces
צעברעכן (tsebrekhn)transitive: to separate into (to cause to end up in) two or more pieces

Rhymes & wordplay

Cite this entry

APA

break. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/break

MLA

“break.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/break. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “break,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/break.

Source: break on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.

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