Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English - break

~1 v past tense broke, past participle broken 1 »IN PIECES« a) to make something separate into two or more pieces, for example by hitting it, dropping it, or bending it  (The thieves got in by breaking a window. | break sth in two/in half/into pieces etc)  (He broke the roll in two and handed a piece to me.) b) to separate into two or more pieces  (The frames are made of plastic and they tend to break easily.) 2 »PART OF YOUR BODY« to damage part of your body, especially a bone, and make it split into two or more pieces  (She fell downstairs and broke her hip.) 3 »NOT WORKING« a) to damage something such as a machine so that it cannot work or be used  (Someone's broken my camera - I can't get it to focus properly. | There's no point in buying him expensive toys, he'll only break them.) b) if something such as a part of a machine breaks, it stops working  (I think the spring's broken.) 4 »SURFACE/SKIN« if the surface of something breaks or if you break it, it splits or gets a hole in it  (The seal on the jar did not seem to have been broken.) 5 »RULE/LAW ETC« to disobey a rule, law etc  (Anyone who rides a motorbike without a helmet is breaking the law.) 6 »PROMISE/AGREEMENT« break a promise/break an agreement/break your word to not do what you have promised to do or signed an agreement to do  (I felt I had to take her to the film - I didn't want to break my promise.) 7 break free/break loose to escape from someone or somewhere by using force  (I managed to break free by elbowing him in the stomach.) 8 break loose if violent feelings or a violent situation breaks loose, they suddenly start to happen  (all hell broke loose (=people started behaving in a wild, uncontrolled way))  (The moment the shot rang out all hell broke loose.) 9 break even to neither make a profit nor lose money  (Things have been so bad we'll be lucky if we break even.) 10 break a habit to stop wanting to keep doing something, especially something that you should not do  (Smoking is a difficult habit to break.) 11 why break the habit of a lifetime? humorous spoken used when telling someone that you expect that they will behave in the same way that they have always done, and make the same mistakes  ("I'd better hurry up or I'll be late." "Why break the habit of a lifetime?") 12 break sb's heart to make someone very unhappy by ending a relationship with them or by doing something that they do not want you to do  (He's really good looking - I expect he broke all the girls' hearts when he was at school. | It'll break your father's heart if you tell him you're giving up college.) 13 you're breaking my heart/it's breaking my heart humorous spoken used when saying jokingly that you are very sad about something, even though you are not 14 break your neck spoken to hurt yourself very badly, especially by falling onto the ground  (The path was really icy and I was lucky I didn't break my neck.) 15 I'll break his/her neck spoken used when threatening to hurt someone because you are very angry about what they have done  (If I get hold of the guy who hit my car I'll break his neck.) 16 break the back of to finish the main or worst part of something  (The engineers are confident they have broken the back of the problem.) 17 break your back spoken to work very hard to try and do something  (We've been breaking our backs trying to get the work done on time.) 18 break sb's fall to stop someone from falling straight onto the ground, so that they are not badly hurt  (Luckily some trees at the bottom of the cliff broke his fall.) 19 break a record to do something even faster or even better than the previous best time, amount etc  (Christie has broken his own European record in the 100 meters. | break all records (=to be much better or much more successful than anything before))  (This year's sales performance is expected to break all records.) 20 break for lunch/coffee/dinner etc to stop for a short time in order to have lunch, a drink etc  (At 12.30 we'll break for lunch, and start again at 2 o'clock.) 21 break sb's concentration/flow/train of thought to interrupt someone and stop them from being able to continue thinking or talking about something  (I never listen to music when I'm working - it breaks my concentration.) 22 »END A SITUATION« to stop an unpleasant situation from continuing  (break the monotony)  (We took turns driving, in order to try and break the monotony. | break the deadlock/stalemate (=end a situation in which an agreement or a solution cannot be found))  (a way of ending the deadlock in Bosnia) 23 break a strike to force workers to end a strike2 (1)  (threats to use the army to break the 10 month old strike) 24 break the silence/calm to end a period of silence or calm by talking or making a noise  (The silence was broken by a burst of machine-gun fire.) 25 break your silence to start talking about something in public after refusing to do so for a long time  (She has finally broken her silence about the divorce.) 26 break your links/ties/connection etc to end your connection or relationship with a person, group, organization etc  (The US broke all diplomatic links with North Korea for a 3 month period..) 27 break sb to completely destroy someone's chances of success or make them feel that they cannot continue  (the scandal that finally broke him) 28 break sb's spirit/resolve to make someone stop trying to achieve something, or start doing what you want  (They could not break her spirit.) 29 break ranks to behave differently from the other members of a group, who are expecting you to support them  (No one in the party was prepared to break ranks and vote against their leader.) 30 break the ice a) to make people who have just met each other less nervous and more willing to talk, for example at a party or meeting  (Sharon tried to break the ice by suggesting that we all play a game.) b) to do something that shows you want to end an argument, quarrel etc  (Yeltsin offered a ceasefire to the rebels in an attempt to break the ice.) 31 it won't break the bank used to say that you can afford to buy something  (It's time we had a holiday, and it won't break the bank.) 32 break the bank to win more money in a game of cards than a casino or a dealer (3) is able to pay you 33 break fresh/new ground to do something completely new that no one has ever done before, or find out new information about a subject  (Researchers claim they are breaking new ground and are getting closer to discovering the causes of the disease.) 34 break cover to move out of a place where you have been hiding so that you can be seen  (One of the rhinos broke cover and charged straight at them.) 35 break camp to pack tents and other equipment and leave the place where you have been camping 36 »DAY/DAWN« if the day or the dawn breaks, light starts to shine in the sky  (We arrived at Narita just as the dawn was breaking.) 37 »STORM« if a storm or the monsoon breaks, it suddenly begins  (Bonington's team were nearing the summit when the monsoon broke.) 38 »WEATHER« if the weather breaks, it suddenly changes 39 »WAVE« if a wave breaks, the top part starts to fall down, usually because it is hitting or getting near the shore  (waves breaking against the foot of the cliffs) 40 »VOICE« if a boy's voice breaks, it becomes lower and starts to sound like a man's voice  (I was in the school choir until my voice broke.) 41 »NEWS« if news about an important event breaks, it finally becomes known  (The Watergate scandal was about to break.) 42 »CODE« to succeed in understanding what the letters or numbers in a secret code1 (4) mean  (Polish scientists broke the Enigma code shortly before World War II.) 43 break wind to allow gas to escape from your bowels, making a noise and an unpleasant smell; fart1 (1) 44 break (sb's) serve to win a game in tennis when your opponent is serving (serve1 (10)  (Courier broke Sampras' serve in the first game of the third set.) 45 break! used when telling boxers or wrestlers to stop fighting 46 break a leg! humorous spoken used to wish someone good luck break away ~ phr v 1 to leave a group or political party to form another group, usually because of a disagreement + from  (The Nottingham miners broke away from the NUM to form their own union.) 2 to move away from someone or something + from  (They kissed, then she broke away from him and ran to the window.) break down ~ phr v 1 »MACHINE« if a large machine, especially a car, breaks down, it stops working  (The elevators in this building are always breaking down.) 2 »FAIL« if a discussion, system etc breaks down, it fails because there are problems  (Peace talks have broken down over the question of reparations.) 3 »DOOR« T break something down) if you break down a door, you hit it so hard that it breaks and falls to the ground 4 »CHANGE FIXED IDEAS« T break something down) to change the fixed ideas or feelings that someone or a group of people have so that they agree with yours  (It'll be difficult to break down their prejudices about lesbians.) 5 »CHANGE CHEMICALLY« if a substance breaks down or something breaks it down, it changes as a result of a chemical process  (break sth down)  (Bacteria break down the animal waste to form methane gas.) 6 »CRY« to be unable to stop yourself crying, especially in public  (If I go to the funeral, I'll break down.) 7 »BECOME ILL« to become mentally or physically ill  (If Tim carries on working like this, he'll break down sooner or later.) 8 »MAKE STH SIMPLE« T break something down) to separate something such as a job or report into parts, especially so that it is easier to do or understand  (a recipe that breaks down the making of creme brulee into simple steps)  (- see also breakdown) break for sth ~ phr v AmE to suddenly run or drive somewhere, especially in order to escape from someone  (Sharkey broke for the exit, but got nabbed.) break in ~ phr v 1 to enter a building by using force, in order to steal something  (Someone broke in and took several computers.)  (- see also break-in) 2 T break someone/something in) to make a person or animal get used to a certain way of behaving or working  (Don't worry about doing the accounts, we'll break you in gently.) 3 to join a conversation by interrupting someone or saying something suddenly  (Dad would occasionally break in with a suggestion.) + on  (Sorry to break in on you, but your wife is on the line.) 4 T break something in) to make new shoes or boots less stiff and more comfortable, by wearing them break into sth ~ phr v 1 »STEAL« to enter a building by using force, in order to steal something  (Thieves broke into the bank vault by digging a tunnel.) 2 break into a run/gallop/trot etc to suddenly start running etc  (Suzie heard footsteps behind her and broke into a run.) 3 break into a sweat to start sweating (sweat2 (1)  (The game was over before I'd even broken into a sweat!) 4 »NEW BUSINESS ACTIVITY« to become involved in a new activity, especially a business activity  (British Airways is trying to break into the American market.) 5 »MONEY« to start to spend money that you did not want to spend  (We'll have to break into the $500 your dad gave us.) 6 »INTERRUPT« to interrupt an activity by saying or doing something  (Sorry to break into your lunch hour, but I must speak to you urgently.) 7 break into tears/laughter/cheers etc to suddenly start crying, laughing etc break sb of sth ~ phr v to make someone stop having a bad habit  (What can we do to break him of sucking his thumb?) break off ~ phr v 1 to suddenly stop doing something, especially talking to someone  (Fay told her story, breaking off now and then to wipe the tears from her eyes.)  (break sth off)  (I broke off the conversation and answered the phone.) 2 T break something off) to stop a relationship  (break off relations/an engagement)  (Britain was about to break off diplomatic relations with Libya.) 3 to break a piece from the main part of something  (break sth off)  (I broke off a piece of bread. | break sth off sth)  (Why don't you break a branch off the tree and make a walking stick?) break out ~ phr v 1 »ESCAPE« to escape from a prison or similar place + of  (a plan to break out of jail)  (- see also breakout) 2 »WAR/FIRE ETC« if something unpleasant such as a fire, war, or disease breaks out, it starts to happen  (Several scuffles broke out in the crowd.) 3 »CHANGE YOUR LIFE« to change the way you live or behave, especially because you feel bored  (break out of a routine/rut etc)  (I've got to break out of the same old dull routine or I'll go crazy.) 4 break out in spots/a rash etc if you break out in spots etc, a lot of red spots appear on your skin  (Talcum powder makes me break out in a rash.) 5 break out in a sweat to start sweating (sweat2 (1)) break through ~ phr v 1 to force a way through something  (break through sth)  (At dawn 300 tanks prepared to break through the enemy lines.) 2 if the sun or light breaks through, you can see it through something such as clouds or mist 3 T break through something) to deal successfully with something, especially unreasonable behaviour or bad feelings  (How could I break through his reserve?)  (- see also breakthrough) break up ~ phr v 1 »BREAK INTO PIECES« to break or make something break into many small pieces  (The stricken tanker began to break up on the rocks.)  (break sth up)  (Jim started to break the ice up on the frozen lake.) 2 »SEPARATE« T break something up) to separate something into several smaller parts  (I want to plant more bushes to break up the garden a bit.) 3 »FIGHT« if a fight etc breaks up or someone breaks it up, the people stop fighting each other  (break something up)  (Three policemen were needed to break up the fight. | break up a demonstration/meeting etc)  (The army is on hand to break up any demonstrations against the regime.) 4 »MARRIAGE/ORGANIZATION« if a marriage, group of people, or organization breaks up, the people in it separate and do not live or work together any more  (If a parent dies, the family may break up.)  (- see also breakup (1)) 5 »CROWD« if a crowd or meeting breaks up, people start to leave 6 »SCHOOL« BrE if a school or the students of a school break up, they begin a holiday + for  (When do you break up for Easter?) 7 »MAKE SB LAUGH« AmE to say or do something that is so funny that people cannot stop laughing  (break sb up)  (Hal really broke me up with that story about the alligator.) break with sb/sth ~ phr v 1 to leave a group of people or an organization, especially because you have had a disagreement with them  (break with sb/sth over sth)  (Powell broke with the Conservative Party over Europe.) 2 break with tradition/the past to stop following old customs and do something in a completely different way ~2 n 1 »A REST« a) a period of time when you stop what you are doing in order to rest, eat etc  (without a break)  (Larry had worked all day without a break. | tea/coffee/lunch break)  (It's time for a coffee break. | have/take a break)  (Let's take a ten minute break.) b) a short holiday  (weekend break)  (a travel agent specializing in weekend breaks | the Easter/Christmas etc break (=the public or school holiday at Easter etc)) c) also break time BrE the time during the school day when classes stop and teachers and students can rest, eat, play etc; recess1 (2) AmE  (I'll speak to you at break.) 2 »A PAUSE IN STH« a) a period of several weeks or years during which something stops, before continuing again + in  (a welcome break in my normal routine) career break  (Demi Moore planned to take a career break to have children.) b) a pause in a conversation or in what someone is saying + in  (She waited for a break in the conversation.) c) also commercial break a pause for advertisements during a television or radio programme  (Join us again after the break.) 3 »END/CHANGE« an occasion when you end a relationship with a person, organization etc, or change the way that things have always been done in the past + from  (Medieval thought represents a sharp break from that of the Greeks.)  (In a break with tradition, they held their wedding at home.) a clean break (=a very clear and definite end to a relationship)  (I don't want a messy divorce, just a quick, clean break. | make the break)  (She's wanted to leave Dave for years, and last week she finally made the break.) 4 »A SPACE« a space between two things or between two parts of something  (The sun shone through a break in the clouds. | a break in the weather (=a short period of good weather)) 5 »A CHANCE« informal a sudden or unexpected chance to do something, especially be successful in your job  (big/lucky break)  (My big break came when I was spotted singing in a club by a talent scout.) 6 make a break for sth to suddenly start running towards something in order to escape from a place  (As soon as the guard's back was turned they made a break for the door. | make a break for it (=try to escape)) 7 »BROKEN PLACE« the place where a bone in your body has broken  (It's a nasty break, the bone has splintered.) 8 give sb/sth a break! spoken used when you want someone to stop talking about something or doing something because it is annoying you  (I'm sick of hearing about your problems. Just give it a break.) 9 give me a break! AmE spoken used when you do not believe something someone has said 10 »TENNIS« also break of serve a situation in a game of tennis in which you win a game when your opponent is serving (serve1 (10))  (break point (=the moment when if you win the point, you win a game)) 11 »POINTS« the number of points won by a player when it is their turn to hit the ball in a game such as billiards or snooker1 12 the break of day literary the time early in the morning when it starts getting light