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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:
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The dish fell to the floor and broke.
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Charles is always breaking things.
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She fell and broke her arm (= broke the bone in her arm).
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I dropped the vase and it broke into pieces.
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I think I've broken your phone.
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I picked it up and the handle broke off.
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We heard the sound of breaking glass.
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1
to destroy or end something, or to come to an end:
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Eventually someone spoke, breaking the silence.
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She laughed and that broke the tension.
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The enemy were unable to break the code (= understand it and so make it useless).
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Outside workers were brought in in an attempt to break (= end) the strike.
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She broke the record for the 5,000 metres.
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2
to fail to keep a law, rule, or promise:
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He didn't know he was breaking the law (= doing something illegal).
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She broke her promise/word to me (= did not do what she promised she would).
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3
to (cause something to) divide into two or more parts or groups:
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These enzymes break down food in the stomach (= cause food to separate into smaller pieces).
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I asked her to break her expenses down into food, travel and personal costs.
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4
to interrupt or to stop something for a short period:
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We usually break for lunch at 12.30.
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I needed something to break the monotony of my typing job.
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The phone rang, breaking my concentration.
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UK They decided to break their journey in Singapore.
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5
to go somewhere or do something by force:
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He threatened to break the door down (= enter using force).
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The horse tried to break free from its stable.
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In the storm the boat broke loose from its moorings.
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The thieves broke the safe open and stole the diamonds.
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The police broke up the fight (= ended it forcefully).
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She broke his grip and ran away.
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6
to lose your confidence, determination, or ability to control yourself, or to make someone do this:
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He thought she would break under the strain.
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They tried to break his will (= make him lose his control) but he resisted.
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7
to become known or to make something become known:
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When the scandal broke (= came to the public's attention), the CEO resigned immediately.
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It was the local newspaper that first broke the story (= told the public).
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8
(of waves) to reach and move over the beach, hit a cliff or wall, etc.:
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A huge wave broke on/against the shore/over the boat.
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9
(of the weather) to change suddenly and usually become worse:
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The forecast is for the hot weather to break today.
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10
(of a storm) to start suddenly:
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We arrived just as a storm was breaking.
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11
When dawn or day breaks, the sun starts to appear in the sky early in the morning:
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Dawn broke over the city.
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12
When a boy's voice breaks it begins to sound like a man's:
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His voice broke when he was 13.
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Her voice was breaking with emotion as she pleaded for her child's return.
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13
(in tennis) to win a game in which another player is serving (= hitting the ball first):
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Nadal broke Cilic's serve in the second set.
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14
If a football team breaks, it gets the ball in its own half and attacks quickly into the opposing team's half:
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Blues broke quickly, catching Wolves on the back foot.
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15
an interruption:
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Finally there was a break in the rain and we went out.
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I'll make us a cup of tea in the next break.
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a coffee break
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UK a tea break
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a lunch/dinner break
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We'll take another break at 3.30.
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They worked through the night without a break.
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Do you usually take a morning/afternoon break?
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We were talking about it at break.
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Take a couple of weeks off - you need a break.
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How long is the Christmas break this year?
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We decided to have a short/spring/winter/weekend break in Paris.
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I'll read your report over (= during) the Christmas break.
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I need a break from typing.
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I babysit every Friday to give her a break.
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Give her a break - she's only a child and she didn't mean any harm.
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16
an opportunity for improving a situation, especially one that happens unexpectedly:
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Her big break came when she was offered a role in a Spielberg movie.
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17
a place where something has broken:
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There's a break in the pipe.
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18
the end of a relationship, connection, or way of doing something:
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Their decision to not name their daughter Jane was a break with family tradition.
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You've been in your job for years - it's time you made a break.
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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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19
in tennis, a game won by the player who was not serving (= hitting the ball first):
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Murray must get another break (of serve) to win.
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20
to escape from/towards somewhere or something, often by force:
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A group of prisoners made a break from the jail a few years back.
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The cat made a break for the door.
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When he let go, I made a break for it (= escaped quickly).
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21
the time when the sun rises in the morning:
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We set out at break of day.
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22
to separate something suddenly or violently into two or more pieces, or to stop working by being damaged:
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[ T ] I broke a glass in the kitchen and have to vacuum it up.
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[ I ] Our toaster broke, so we have to get a new one.
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[ M ] The police broke the door down to get into the apartment.
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[ T ] The top women’s downhill skier broke her leg in a freak collision.
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[ T ] Can you break a $50 bill for me?
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23
to interrupt or to stop something for a brief period:
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[ I ] Let’s continue for another ten minutes and then break for lunch.
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24
to end or change something, or to stop:
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[ I ] Cheryl found the habit of drinking a lot of coffee hard to break.
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[ T ] She broke the record for the 5000 meters (= she did better than the record).
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[ T ] They worked hard to break the deadlock in the negotiations.
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25
to escape or separate from something or someone suddenly:
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26
to fail to obey or follow a law, rule, or promise:
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He didn’t know he was breaking the law.
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My daughter got sick and I had to break my appointment.
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27
to become known or cause something to be known, usually to the public:
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[ T ] The newspaper reporters who broke the story won the Pulitzer prize.
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[ I ] People wept when the news broke that the plant was closing for good.
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28
(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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29
an opportunity for improving a situation, esp. one that happens unexpectedly:
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Getting that first job was a lucky break.
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30
a place in the surface of something where it has cracked from damage:
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31
an interruption, esp. in a regular activity, or a short period of rest when food or drink is sometimes eaten:
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a lunch/coffee break
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a break in the heat wave
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I went skiing in the mountains during spring break (= period in early spring when school classes temporarily stop).
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32
a time early in the morning when the sun is rising:
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We set out at the break of day.
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33
to do something that is against a law, or not do something that you should do or have promised to do:
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break the law He didn't know he was breaking the law when he gave her the information.
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break a promise/agreement/contract
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34
to bring something to an end, especially suddenly or forcefully:
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The company needs to break the spiral of borrowing and spending.
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break a strike Outside workers were hired in an attempt to break the strike.
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35
to reach a higher level of performance than previously:
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break a barrier The company's market share had broken the 25% barrier for the first time.
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break a record Yesterday Roger broke the record for monthly sales.
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36
to exchange a large bill (= piece of paper money) for bills or coins in smaller amounts:
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Can you break a twenty for me, please?
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37
to work very hard:
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He has been breaking his back to get the project finished on time.
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38
to have no profit or loss at the end of a business activity because you only make enough money to pay for your costs:
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How many copies do we need to sell to break even?
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After paying compensation for the damaged goods, we barely broke even.
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39
to start building a new building, or to start being built:
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break ground on sth The company recently broke ground on its new manufacturing facility in Virginia Beach, VA.
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The new medical center is expected to break ground in May.
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40
to do or discover something new:
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41
to cost too much, or spend too much money:
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There are insurance policies available that will not break the bank.
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There are ways of boosting a traditional business without breaking the bank.
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42
a short period of rest, when food or drink is sometimes taken:
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a coffee/tea break
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Where do you go in your lunch break?
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have/take a break We'll work through till lunch but take a short break at 11 o'clock.
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43
a time away from work or from a regular activity:
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the Christmas break
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She resumed her career after a two-year break.
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44
a short period when a radio or television programme is interrupted by announcements or advertisements:
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We'll be right back after the break.
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45
a reduction in the amount that has to be paid for something:
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46
an opportunity for improving a situation, especially one which happens unexpectedly:
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Her big break came when she was offered a major part in a new movie.
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47
an occasion when levels or figures become slightly higher or lower than the level stated:
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Gold prices rallied again, a move which traders said could foreshadow another break above $400 an ounce.
