1
as in to disrupt
to cause to separate into pieces usually suddenly or forcibly
hated telling her that I had broken her favorite glass vase
2
as in to stop
to bring (as an action or operation) to an immediate end
the final vote broke the deadlock
3
as in to reduce
to bring to a lower grade or rank
the captain was broken to lieutenant commander for disobeying a direct order from his group commander
4
as in to decipher
to change (as a secret message) from code into ordinary language
Alan Turing and the Bletchley Park mathematicians broke the Enigma code being used by the Nazis
5
as in to pause
to come to a temporary halt in one's activity
she broke from her ruminations to find that it was already dinnertime
6
as in to plow
to cut into and turn over the sod of (a piece of land) using a bladed implement
farmers once broke fields with horse-drawn plows
7
as in to violate
to fail to keep
had to confess that he had broken his promise not to share their conversation with anyone
8
as in to solve
to find an answer for through reasoning
Professor Bates broke the problem when she realized that it was possible to synthesize the necessary compounds
9
as in to damage
to reduce the soundness, effectiveness, or perfection of
I broke a tooth on the hard candy
10
as in to die
to stop functioning
after working for 30 years, the pump simply broke one day
11
as in to retreat
to hasten away from something dangerous or frightening
the herd of gazelles broke when they saw the lions racing toward them from the ridge above
12
as in to wear
to use up all the physical energy of
the trek up the mountain just about broke me
13
as in to circulate
to become known
as soon as the scandal broke, the CEO fled the country
14
as in to ruin
to cause to lose one's fortune and become unable to pay one's debts
another bad investment could break him
15
as in to begin
to come into existence
the crisis had passed, and a new day was breaking
16
as in to veer
to depart abruptly from a straight line or course
the running back broke to his left before running out of bounds
17
as in to depress
to diminish the price or value of
distressing economic news that will break many energy stocks
18
as in to exceed
to go beyond the limit of
a menu with prices that is likely to break the budgets of all but the wealthiest of diners
19
as in to surface
to penetrate the surface (as of water) from below
dolphins were breaking all around the boat
1
as in pause
a momentary halt in an activity
there was a brief break after the first movement as the doors to the concert hall were opened and the latecomers were allowed in
2
as in vacation
a period during which the usual routine of school or work is suspended
most of the students at the boarding school are going home for Christmas break
3
as in gap
an open space in a barrier (as a wall or hedge)
the rancher repaired the break in the fence where the horse had gotten through
4
as in opportunity
a favorable combination of circumstances, time, and place
in classic fashion, her big break came when, as an understudy, she took over for an ailing star
5
as in accident
an unexpected benefit or advantage resulting from the uncertain course of events
a guy who just seems to get all the breaks in life
6
as in escape
the act or an instance of getting free from danger or confinement
a desperate break from that hellhole
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Merriam-Webster unabridged
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