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to (cause something to) separate suddenly or violently into two or more pieces, or to (cause something to) stop working by being damaged:
The dish fell to the floor and broke.
Charles is always breaking things.
She fell and broke her arm (= broke the bone in her arm).
I dropped the vase and it broke into pieces.
I think I've broken your phone.
I picked it up and the handle broke off.
We heard the sound of breaking glass.
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to destroy or end something, or to come to an end:
Eventually someone spoke, breaking the silence.
She laughed and that broke the tension.
The enemy were unable to break the code (= understand it and so make it useless).
Outside workers were brought in in an attempt to break (= end) the strike.
She broke the record for the 5,000 metres.
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to fail to keep a law, rule, or promise:
He didn't know he was breaking the law (= doing something illegal).
She broke her promise/word to me (= did not do what she promised she would).
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to (cause something to) divide into two or more parts or groups:
These enzymes break down food in the stomach (= cause food to separate into smaller pieces).
I asked her to break her expenses down into food, travel and personal costs.
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to interrupt or to stop something for a short period:
We usually break for lunch at 12.30.
I needed something to break the monotony of my typing job.
The phone rang, breaking my concentration.
UK They decided to break their journey in Singapore.
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to go somewhere or do something by force:
He threatened to break the door down (= enter using force).
The horse tried to break free from its stable.
In the storm the boat broke loose from its moorings.
The thieves broke the safe open and stole the diamonds.
The police broke up the fight (= ended it forcefully).
She broke his grip and ran away.
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to lose your confidence, determination, or ability to control yourself, or to make someone do this:
He thought she would break under the strain.
They tried to break his will (= make him lose his control) but he resisted.
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to become known or to make something become known:
When the scandal broke (= came to the public's attention), the CEO resigned immediately.
It was the local newspaper that first broke the story (= told the public).
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(of waves) to reach and move over the beach, hit a cliff or wall, etc.:
A huge wave broke on/against the shore/over the boat.
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(of the weather) to change suddenly and usually become worse:
The forecast is for the hot weather to break today.
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(of a storm) to start suddenly:
We arrived just as a storm was breaking.
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When dawn or day breaks, the sun starts to appear in the sky early in the morning:
Dawn broke over the city.
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When a boy's voice breaks it begins to sound like a man's:
His voice broke when he was 13.
Her voice was breaking with emotion as she pleaded for her child's return.
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(in tennis) to win a game in which another player is serving (= hitting the ball first):
Nadal broke Cilic's serve in the second set.
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If a football team breaks, it gets the ball in its own half and attacks quickly into the opposing team's half:
Blues broke quickly, catching Wolves on the back foot.
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an interruption:
Finally there was a break in the rain and we went out.
I'll make us a cup of tea in the next break.
a coffee break
UK a tea break
a lunch/dinner break
We'll take another break at 3.30.
They worked through the night without a break.
Do you usually take a morning/afternoon break?
We were talking about it at break.
Take a couple of weeks off - you need a break.
How long is the Christmas break this year?
We decided to have a short/spring/winter/weekend break in Paris.
I'll read your report over (= during) the Christmas break.
I need a break from typing.
I babysit every Friday to give her a break.
Give her a break - she's only a child and she didn't mean any harm.
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an opportunity for improving a situation, especially one that happens unexpectedly:
Her big break came when she was offered a role in a Spielberg movie.
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a place where something has broken:
There's a break in the pipe.
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the end of a relationship, connection, or way of doing something:
Their decision to not name their daughter Jane was a break with family tradition.
You've been in your job for years - it's time you made a break.
When a relationship ends, it's often best to make a clean/complete break (= suddenly and completely stop seeing each other).
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in tennis, a game won by the player who was not serving (= hitting the ball first):
Murray must get another break (of serve) to win.
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to escape from/towards somewhere or something, often by force:
A group of prisoners made a break from the jail a few years back.
The cat made a break for the door.
When he let go, I made a break for it (= escaped quickly).
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the time when the sun rises in the morning:
We set out at break of day.
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to separate something suddenly or violently into two or more pieces, or to stop working by being damaged:
[ T ] I broke a glass in the kitchen and have to vacuum it up.
[ I ] Our toaster broke, so we have to get a new one.
[ M ] The police broke the door down to get into the apartment.
[ T ] The top women’s downhill skier broke her leg in a freak collision.
[ T ] Can you break a $50 bill for me?
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to interrupt or to stop something for a brief period:
[ I ] Let’s continue for another ten minutes and then break for lunch.
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to end or change something, or to stop:
[ I ] Cheryl found the habit of drinking a lot of coffee hard to break.
[ T ] She broke the record for the 5000 meters (= she did better than the record).
[ T ] They worked hard to break the deadlock in the negotiations.
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to escape or separate from something or someone suddenly:
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to fail to obey or follow a law, rule, or promise:
He didn’t know he was breaking the law.
My daughter got sick and I had to break my appointment.
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to become known or cause something to be known, usually to the public:
[ T ] The newspaper reporters who broke the story won the Pulitzer prize.
[ I ] People wept when the news broke that the plant was closing for good.
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(of a wave moving toward land) to suddenly change from a rising curl of water, sometimes showing white, to a layer that spreads out on reaching land
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an opportunity for improving a situation, esp. one that happens unexpectedly:
Getting that first job was a lucky break.
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a place in the surface of something where it has cracked from damage:
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an interruption, esp. in a regular activity, or a short period of rest when food or drink is sometimes eaten:
a lunch/coffee break
a break in the heat wave
I went skiing in the mountains during spring break (= period in early spring when school classes temporarily stop).
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a time early in the morning when the sun is rising:
We set out at the break of day.
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to do something that is against a law, or not do something that you should do or have promised to do:
break the law He didn't know he was breaking the law when he gave her the information.
break a promise/agreement/contract
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to bring something to an end, especially suddenly or forcefully:
The company needs to break the spiral of borrowing and spending.
break a strike Outside workers were hired in an attempt to break the strike.
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to reach a higher level of performance than previously:
break a barrier The company's market share had broken the 25% barrier for the first time.
break a record Yesterday Roger broke the record for monthly sales.
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to exchange a large bill (= piece of paper money) for bills or coins in smaller amounts:
Can you break a twenty for me, please?
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to work very hard:
He has been breaking his back to get the project finished on time.
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to have no profit or loss at the end of a business activity because you only make enough money to pay for your costs:
How many copies do we need to sell to break even?
After paying compensation for the damaged goods, we barely broke even.
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to start building a new building, or to start being built:
break ground on sth The company recently broke ground on its new manufacturing facility in Virginia Beach, VA.
The new medical center is expected to break ground in May.
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to do or discover something new:
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to cost too much, or spend too much money:
There are insurance policies available that will not break the bank.
There are ways of boosting a traditional business without breaking the bank.
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a short period of rest, when food or drink is sometimes taken:
a coffee/tea break
Where do you go in your lunch break?
have/take a break We'll work through till lunch but take a short break at 11 o'clock.
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a time away from work or from a regular activity:
the Christmas break
She resumed her career after a two-year break.
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a short period when a radio or television programme is interrupted by announcements or advertisements:
We'll be right back after the break.
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a reduction in the amount that has to be paid for something:
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an opportunity for improving a situation, especially one which happens unexpectedly:
Her big break came when she was offered a major part in a new movie.
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an occasion when levels or figures become slightly higher or lower than the level stated:
Gold prices rallied again, a move which traders said could foreshadow another break above $400 an ounce.