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English noun: break

1. break (event) some abrupt occurrence that interrupts an ongoing activity


SamplesThe telephone is an annoying interruption.
There was a break in the action when a player was hurt.


Synonymsinterruption


Broader (hypernym)happening, natural event, occurrence, occurrent


Narrower (hyponym)abatement, dislocation, disruption, eclipse, hiatus, occultation, punctuation, reprieve, respite, suspension

2. break (event) an unexpected piece of good luck


SamplesHe finally got his big break.


Synonymsgood luck, happy chance


Broader (hypernym)accident, chance event, fortuity, stroke

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


SamplesThey built it right over a geological fault.
He studied the faulting of the earth's crust.


Synonymsfault, faulting, fracture, geological fault, shift


Broader (hypernym)cleft, crack, crevice, fissure, scissure


Narrower (hyponym)inclined fault, strike-slip fault


Instance hyponymDenali Fault, San Andreas Fault


Part holonymfault line


Domain categorygeology

4. break (event) a personal or social separation (as between opposing factions)


SamplesThey hoped to avoid a break in relations.


Synonymsbreach, falling out, rift, rupture, severance


Broader (hypernym)breakup, detachment, separation


Narrower (hyponym)schism

5. break (act) a pause from doing something (as work)


SamplesWe took a 10-minute break.
He took time out to recuperate.


Synonymsrecess, respite, time out


Broader (hypernym)pause


Narrower (hyponym)spring break

6. break (act) the act of breaking something


SamplesThe breakage was unavoidable.


Synonymsbreakage, breaking


Broader (hypernym)change of integrity


Narrower (hyponym)chip, chipping, crack, cracking, fracture, rupture, shattering, smashing, splintering

7. break (time) a time interval during which there is a temporary cessation of something


Synonymsintermission, interruption, pause, suspension


Broader (hypernym)interval, time interval


Narrower (hyponym)blackout, caesura, dead air, delay, halftime, hold, lapse, letup, lull, postponement, relief, respite, rest, rest period, time lag, time-out, wait

8. break (state) breaking of hard tissue such as bone


SamplesIt was a nasty fracture.
The break seems to have been caused by a fall.


Synonymsfracture


Broader (hypernym)harm, hurt, injury, trauma


Narrower (hyponym)capillary fracture, closed fracture, comminuted fracture, complete fracture, compound fracture, compression fracture, depressed fracture, displaced fracture, fatigue fracture, hairline fracture, impacted fracture, incomplete fracture, open fracture, simple fracture, stress fracture

9. break (event) the occurrence of breaking


SamplesThe break in the dam threatened the valley.


Broader (hypernym)breakup, detachment, separation


Narrower (hyponym)snap

10. break (event) an abrupt change in the tone or register of the voice (as at puberty or due to emotion)


SamplesThen there was a break in her voice.


Broader (hypernym)alteration, change, modification

11. break (act) the opening shot that scatters the balls in billiards or pool


Broader (hypernym)shot, stroke


Part meronymbilliards, pocket billiards, pool

12. break (act) (tennis) a score consisting of winning a game when your opponent was serving


SamplesHe was up two breaks in the second set.


Synonymsbreak of serve


Broader (hypernym)score


Domain categorylawn tennis, tennis

13. break (act) an act of delaying or interrupting the continuity


SamplesIt was presented without commercial breaks.
There was a gap in his account.


Synonymsdisruption, gap, interruption


Broader (hypernym)delay, holdup


Narrower (hyponym)abruption, barracking, breaking off, cut-in, cut-in, heckling, insert, insert, interjection, interpellation, interpolation, interposition

14. break (act) a sudden dash


SamplesHe made a break for the open door.


Broader (hypernym)dash, sprint


Narrower (hyponym)fast break

15. break (act) any frame in which a bowler fails to make a strike or spare


SamplesThe break in the eighth frame cost him the match.


Synonymsopen frame


Broader (hypernym)score

16. break (act) an escape from jail


SamplesThe breakout was carefully planned.


Synonymsbreakout, gaolbreak, jailbreak, prison-breaking, prisonbreak


Broader (hypernym)escape, flight


English verb: break

1. break (change) terminate


SamplesShe interrupted her pregnancy.
Break a lucky streak.
Break the cycle of poverty.


Synonymsinterrupt


Pattern of useSomebody ----s something.
Something ----s something


Broader (hypernym)end, terminate


Narrower (hyponym)break off, break short, cut short, freeze, hold on, stop, suspend

2. break (change) become separated into pieces or fragments


SamplesThe figurine broke.
The freshly baked loaf fell apart.


ExamplesThe wooden sticks break , These glasses break easily


Synonymscome apart, fall apart, separate, split up


Pattern of useSomething ----s


Broader (hypernym)change integrity


Narrower (hyponym)break open, break up, burst, burst, bust, crack, crush, fragment, fragmentise, fragmentize, ladder, puncture, run, smash, snap, split


Verb groupbreak

3. break (change) render inoperable or ineffective


SamplesYou broke the alarm clock when you took it apart!.


Pattern of useSomebody ----s something.
Something ----s something


Broader (hypernym)damage


Verb groupbreak, break down, conk out, die, fail, give out, give way, go, go bad

4. break (contact) ruin completely


SamplesHe busted my radio!.


Synonymsbust


Pattern of useSomebody ----s something.
Something ----s something


Broader (hypernym)destroy, ruin


Narrower (hyponym)break down


Causebreak, bust, fall apart, wear, wear out


Verb groupbreak, bust, fall apart, wear, wear out


Antonymsbushel, fix, furbish up, mend, repair, doctor, touch on, restore

5. break (change) destroy the integrity of; usually by force; cause to separate into pieces or fragments


SamplesHe broke the glass plate.
She broke the match.


ExamplesThe girls break the wooden sticks


Pattern of useSomebody ----s something.
Something ----s something


Broader (hypernym)divide, separate


Narrower (hyponym)break in, dash, fracture, shatter, smash


Verb groupbreak, come apart, fall apart, separate, split up

6. break (social) act in disregard of laws, rules, contracts, or promises


SamplesOffend all laws of humanity.
Violate the basic laws or human civilization.
Break a law.
Break a promise.


Synonymsbreach, go against, infract, offend, transgress, violate


Pattern of useSomebody ----s something


Broader (hypernym)disrespect


Narrower (hyponym)blunder, boob, conflict, contravene, drop the ball, goof, infringe, intrude, run afoul, sin, sin, transgress, trespass, trespass, trespass


Antonymskeep, observe

7. break (motion) move away or escape suddenly


SamplesThe horses broke from the stable.
Three inmates broke jail.
Nobody can break out--this prison is high security.


Synonymsbreak away, break out


Pattern of useSomebody ----s.
Something is ----ing PP.
Somebody ----s something.
Somebody ----s PP


Broader (hypernym)break loose, escape, get away


Verb groupbreak

8. break (motion) scatter or part


SamplesThe clouds broke after the heavy downpour.


Pattern of useSomething ----s


Broader (hypernym)disperse, dissipate, scatter, spread out

9. break (emotion) force out or release suddenly and often violently something pent up


SamplesBreak into tears.
Erupt in anger.


Synonymsburst, erupt


Pattern of useSomebody ----s PP


Broader (hypernym)express emotion, express feelings

10. break (change) prevent completion


SamplesStop the project.
Break off the negotiations.


Synonymsbreak off, discontinue, stop


Pattern of useSomebody ----s something.
Something ----s something


Broader (hypernym)end, terminate


Narrower (hyponym)bog, bog down, break up, cut off, disrupt, fracture, interrupt

11. break (social) enter someone's (virtual or real) property in an unauthorized manner, usually with the intent to steal or commit a violent act


SamplesSomeone broke in while I was on vacation.
They broke into my car and stole my radio!.
Who broke into my account last night?.


Synonymsbreak in


Pattern of useSomebody ----s something.
Somebody ----s PP


Broader (hypernym)intrude, trespass


Narrower (hyponym)crack

12. break (change) make submissive, obedient, or useful


SamplesThe horse was tough to break.
I broke in the new intern.


Synonymsbreak in


Pattern of useSomebody ----s something.
Somebody ----s somebody


Broader (hypernym)domesticate, domesticise, domesticize, reclaim, tame


Causebreak


Verb groupbreak

13. break (stative) fail to agree with; be in violation of; as of rules or patterns


SamplesThis sentence violates the rules of syntax.


Synonymsgo against, violate


Pattern of useSomebody ----s something.
Something ----s something


Narrower (hyponym)fly in the face of, fly in the teeth of


Antonymsconform to

14. break (competition) surpass in excellence


SamplesShe bettered her own record.
Break a record.


Synonymsbetter


Pattern of useSomebody ----s something


Broader (hypernym)exceed, outdo, outgo, outmatch, outperform, outstrip, surmount, surpass

15. break (communication) make known to the public information that was previously known only to a few people or that was meant to be kept a secret


SamplesThe auction house would not disclose the price at which the van Gogh had sold.
The actress won't reveal how old she is.
Bring out the truth.
He broke the news to her.
Unwrap the evidence in the murder case.


Synonymsbring out, disclose, discover, divulge, expose, give away, let on, let out, reveal, unwrap


Pattern of useSomebody ----s something.
Something ----s something.
Somebody ----s something to somebody.
Somebody ----s that CLAUSE


Broader (hypernym)tell


Narrower (hyponym)babble, babble out, betray, bewray, blab, blab out, blackwash, blow, come out, come out of the closet, confide, leak, let the cat out of the bag, muckrake, out, out, peach, reveal, sing, spill the beans, spring, talk, tattle


Causebreak, get around, get out


Verb groupbreak, get around, get out

16. break (change) come into being


SamplesLight broke over the horizon.
Voices broke in the air.


Pattern of useSomething ----s


Broader (hypernym)become, get, go

17. break (change) stop operating or functioning


SamplesThe engine finally went.
The car died on the road.
The bus we travelled in broke down on the way to town.
The coffee maker broke.
The engine failed on the way to town.
Her eyesight went after the accident.


ExamplesThese cars won't break


Synonymsbreak down, conk out, die, fail, give out, give way, go, go bad


Pattern of useSomething ----s


Broader (hypernym)change


Narrower (hyponym)blow, blow out, burn out, crash, go down, malfunction, misfire, misfunction


Verb groupbreak, buy the farm, cash in one's chips, choke, conk, croak, decease, die, drop dead, exit, expire, give-up the ghost, go, kick the bucket, pass, pass away, perish, pop off, snuff it

18. break (social) interrupt a continued activity


SamplesShe had broken with the traditional patterns.


Synonymsbreak away


Pattern of useSomething is ----ing PP.
Somebody ----s PP


Broader (hypernym)break, break up, part, separate, split, split up

19. break (motion) make a rupture in the ranks of the enemy or one's own by quitting or fleeing


SamplesThe ranks broke.


Pattern of useSomething ----s.
Somebody ----s


Broader (hypernym)flee, fly, take flight


Verb groupbreak, break away, break out


Domain categoryarmed forces, armed services, military, military machine, war machine

20. break (motion) curl over and fall apart in surf or foam, of waves


SamplesThe surf broke.


Pattern of useSomething ----s


Broader (hypernym)break, cave in, collapse, fall in, founder, give, give way

21. break (change) lessen in force or effect


SamplesSoften a shock.
Break a fall.


Synonymsdamp, dampen, soften, weaken


Pattern of useSomething ----s.
Somebody ----s something.
Something ----s something


Broader (hypernym)blunt, deaden


Narrower (hyponym)damp, dampen, deaden, deafen

22. break (change) be broken in


SamplesIf the new teacher won't break, we'll add some stress.


Pattern of useSomebody ----s


Broader (hypernym)change


Verb groupbreak, break in

23. break (stative) come to an end


SamplesThe heat wave finally broke yesterday.


Pattern of useSomething ----s


Broader (hypernym)cease, end, finish, stop, terminate

24. break (stative) vary or interrupt a uniformity or continuity


SamplesThe flat plain was broken by tall mesas.


Pattern of useSomething ----s something


Broader (hypernym)alter, change, vary

25. break (stative) cause to give up a habit


SamplesShe finally broke herself of smoking cigarettes.


Pattern of useSomebody ----s somebody


Causebreak


Verb groupbreak

26. break (stative) give up


SamplesBreak cigarette smoking.


Pattern of useSomebody ----s something


Broader (hypernym)cease, discontinue, give up, lay off, quit, stop


Verb groupbreak

27. break (stative) come forth or begin from a state of latency


SamplesThe first winter storm broke over New York.


Pattern of useSomething is ----ing PP


Broader (hypernym)come forth, emerge

28. break (social) happen or take place


SamplesThings have been breaking pretty well for us in the past few months.


Pattern of useSomething ----s


Broader (hypernym)come about, fall out, go on, hap, happen, occur, pass, pass off, take place


Domain usagecolloquialism

29. break (social) cause the failure or ruin of


SamplesHis peccadilloes finally broke his marriage.
This play will either make or break the playwright.


Pattern of useSomebody ----s something.
Something ----s something


Broader (hypernym)ruin


Antonymsmake

30. break (social) invalidate by judicial action


SamplesThe will was broken.


Pattern of useSomebody ----s something


Broader (hypernym)annul, avoid, invalidate, nullify, quash, void

31. break (social) discontinue an association or relation; go different ways


SamplesThe business partners broke over a tax question.
The couple separated after 25 years of marriage.
My friend and I split up.


Synonymsbreak up, part, separate, split, split up


Pattern of useSomebody ----s


Narrower (hyponym)break, break apart, break away, break away, break with, disassociate, disjoint, dissociate, disunify, disunite, divorce, divorce, give the axe, give the bounce, give the gate, secede, splinter, split up

32. break (social) assign to a lower position; reduce in rank


SamplesShe was demoted because she always speaks up.
He was broken down to Sergeant.


Synonymsbump, demote, kick downstairs, relegate


Pattern of useSomebody ----s somebody.
Somebody ----s something PP


Broader (hypernym)assign, delegate, depute, designate


Narrower (hyponym)reduce, sideline


Antonymselevate, kick upstairs, promote, upgrade, advance, raise

33. break (possession) reduce to bankruptcy


SamplesMy daughter's fancy wedding is going to break me!.
The slump in the financial markets smashed him.


Synonymsbankrupt, ruin, smash


Pattern of useSomebody ----s somebody.
Something ----s somebody


Broader (hypernym)impoverish

34. break (motion) change directions suddenly


Pattern of useSomething ----s.
Somebody ----s


Broader (hypernym)change, shift, switch

35. break (motion) emerge from the surface of a body of water


SamplesThe whales broke.


Pattern of useSomething ----s


Broader (hypernym)appear

36. break (motion) break down, literally or metaphorically


SamplesThe wall collapsed.
The business collapsed.
The dam broke.
The roof collapsed.
The wall gave in.
The roof finally gave under the weight of the ice.


Synonymscave in, collapse, fall in, founder, give, give way


Pattern of useSomething ----s.
Somebody ----s


Broader (hypernym)change


Narrower (hyponym)break, buckle, crumple, flop, go off, implode, sink, slide down, slump


Verb groupabandon, burst, collapse, give up

37. break (motion) do a break dance


SamplesKids were break-dancing at the street corner.


ExamplesSam and Sue break


Synonymsbreak dance, break-dance


Pattern of useSomebody ----s


Broader (hypernym)dance, trip the light fantastic, trip the light fantastic toe

38. break (contact) exchange for smaller units of money


SamplesI had to break a $100 bill just to buy the candy.


Pattern of useSomebody ----s something


Broader (hypernym)change, commute, convert, exchange


Verb groupbreak, break up

39. break (contact) destroy the completeness of a set of related items


SamplesThe book dealer would not break the set.


Synonymsbreak up


Pattern of useSomebody ----s something


Broader (hypernym)alter, change, modify


Verb groupbreak

40. break (contact) make the opening shot that scatters the balls


Pattern of useSomebody ----s


Broader (hypernym)shoot


Domain categorybilliards

41. break (contact) separate from a clinch, in boxing


SamplesThe referee broke the boxers.


Pattern of useSomebody ----s somebody


Broader (hypernym)disunite, divide, part, separate

42. break (contact) go to pieces


SamplesThe lawn mower finally broke.
The gears wore out.
The old chair finally fell apart completely.


Synonymsbust, fall apart, wear, wear out


Pattern of useSomething ----s


Broader (hypernym)crumble, decay, dilapidate


Narrower (hyponym)fray, frazzle


Verb groupbreak, bust

43. break (contact) break a piece from a whole


SamplesBreak a branch from a tree.


Synonymsbreak off, snap off


Pattern of useSomebody ----s something


Broader (hypernym)detach

44. break (contact) become punctured or penetrated


SamplesThe skin broke.


Pattern of useSomething ----s


Verb groupbreak

45. break (contact) pierce or penetrate


SamplesThe blade broke her skin.


Pattern of useSomething ----s something


Broader (hypernym)penetrate, perforate


Verb groupbreak

46. break (communication) be released or become known; of news


SamplesNews of her death broke in the morning.


Synonymsget around, get out


Pattern of useSomething ----s


Narrower (hyponym)leak, leak out


Verb groupbreak, bring out, disclose, discover, divulge, expose, give away, let on, let out, reveal, unwrap

47. break (communication) cease an action temporarily


SamplesWe pause for station identification.
Let's break for lunch.


Synonymsintermit, pause


Pattern of useSomebody ----s


Broader (hypernym)break up, cut off, disrupt, interrupt


Narrower (hyponym)breathe, catch one's breath, rest, take a breather, take five, take ten

48. break (communication) interrupt the flow of current in


SamplesBreak a circuit.


Pattern of useSomebody ----s something.
Something ----s something


Broader (hypernym)break up, cut off, disrupt, interrupt

49. break (communication) undergo breaking


SamplesThe simple vowels broke in many Germanic languages.


Pattern of useSomething ----s


Broader (hypernym)diphthongise, diphthongize

50. break (cognition) find a flaw in


SamplesBreak an alibi.
Break down a proof.


Pattern of useSomebody ----s something.
Something ----s something


Broader (hypernym)destroy, ruin


Verb groupbreak

51. break (cognition) find the solution or key to


SamplesBreak the code.


Pattern of useSomebody ----s something


Broader (hypernym)figure out, lick, puzzle out, solve, work, work out


Verb groupbreak

52. break (change) change suddenly from one tone quality or register to another


SamplesHer voice broke to a whisper when she started to talk about her children.


Pattern of useSomething ----s


Broader (hypernym)change, shift, switch

53. break (change) happen


SamplesReport the news as it develops.
These political movements recrudesce from time to time.


Synonymsdevelop, recrudesce


Pattern of useSomething ----s


Broader (hypernym)come about, fall out, go on, hap, happen, occur, pass, pass off, take place


Verb groupdevelop

54. break (change) become fractured; break or crack on the surface only


SamplesThe glass cracked when it was heated.


Synonymscheck, crack


Pattern of useSomething ----s


Broader (hypernym)change


Narrower (hyponym)crack


Verb groupcheck, chink, crack

55. break (change) crack; of the male voice in puberty


SamplesHis voice is breaking--he should no longer sing in the choir.


Pattern of useSomething ----s


Broader (hypernym)change state, turn

56. break (change) fall sharply


SamplesStock prices broke.


ExamplesThe stock market is going to break


Pattern of useSomething ----s


Broader (hypernym)decrease, diminish, fall, lessen

57. break (body) fracture a bone of


SamplesI broke my foot while playing hockey.


ExamplesDid he break his foot?


Synonymsfracture


Pattern of useSomebody ----s something


Broader (hypernym)injure, wound


Verb groupfracture

58. break (body) diminish or discontinue abruptly


SamplesThe patient's fever broke last night.


Pattern of useSomething ----s


Broader (hypernym)decrease, diminish, fall, lessen

59. break (body) weaken or destroy in spirit or body


SamplesHis resistance was broken.
A man broken by the terrible experience of near-death.


Pattern of useSomething ----s somebody


Broader (hypernym)weaken









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