English noun: break | |||
1. | break (event) some abrupt occurrence that interrupts an ongoing activity | ||
Samples | The telephone is an annoying interruption. There was a break in the action when a player was hurt. | ||
Synonyms | interruption | ||
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 | ||
Samples | He finally got his big break. | ||
Synonyms | good 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 | ||
Samples | They built it right over a geological fault. He studied the faulting of the earth's crust. | ||
Synonyms | fault, faulting, fracture, geological fault, shift | ||
Broader (hypernym) | cleft, crack, crevice, fissure, scissure | ||
Narrower (hyponym) | inclined fault, strike-slip fault | ||
Instance hyponym | Denali Fault, San Andreas Fault | ||
Part holonym | fault line | ||
Domain category | geology | ||
4. | break (event) a personal or social separation (as between opposing factions) | ||
Samples | They hoped to avoid a break in relations. | ||
Synonyms | breach, falling out, rift, rupture, severance | ||
Broader (hypernym) | breakup, detachment, separation | ||
Narrower (hyponym) | schism | ||
5. | break (act) a pause from doing something (as work) | ||
Samples | We took a 10-minute break. He took time out to recuperate. | ||
Synonyms | recess, respite, time out | ||
Broader (hypernym) | pause | ||
Narrower (hyponym) | spring break | ||
6. | break (act) the act of breaking something | ||
Samples | The breakage was unavoidable. | ||
Synonyms | breakage, 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 | ||
Synonyms | intermission, 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 | ||
Samples | It was a nasty fracture. The break seems to have been caused by a fall. | ||
Synonyms | fracture | ||
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 | ||
Samples | The 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) | ||
Samples | Then 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 meronym | billiards, pocket billiards, pool | ||
12. | break (act) (tennis) a score consisting of winning a game when your opponent was serving | ||
Samples | He was up two breaks in the second set. | ||
Synonyms | break of serve | ||
Broader (hypernym) | score | ||
Domain category | lawn tennis, tennis | ||
13. | break (act) an act of delaying or interrupting the continuity | ||
Samples | It was presented without commercial breaks. There was a gap in his account. | ||
Synonyms | disruption, 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 | ||
Samples | He 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 | ||
Samples | The break in the eighth frame cost him the match. | ||
Synonyms | open frame | ||
Broader (hypernym) | score | ||
16. | break (act) an escape from jail | ||
Samples | The breakout was carefully planned. | ||
Synonyms | breakout, gaolbreak, jailbreak, prison-breaking, prisonbreak | ||
Broader (hypernym) | escape, flight | ||
English verb: break | |||
1. | break (change) terminate | ||
Samples | She interrupted her pregnancy. Break a lucky streak. Break the cycle of poverty. | ||
Synonyms | interrupt | ||
Pattern of use | Somebody ----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 | ||
Samples | The figurine broke. The freshly baked loaf fell apart. | ||
Examples | The wooden sticks break , These glasses break easily | ||
Synonyms | come apart, fall apart, separate, split up | ||
Pattern of use | Something ----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 group | break | ||
3. | break (change) render inoperable or ineffective | ||
Samples | You broke the alarm clock when you took it apart!. | ||
Pattern of use | Somebody ----s something. Something ----s something | ||
Broader (hypernym) | damage | ||
Verb group | break, break down, conk out, die, fail, give out, give way, go, go bad | ||
4. | break (contact) ruin completely | ||
Samples | He busted my radio!. | ||
Synonyms | bust | ||
Pattern of use | Somebody ----s something. Something ----s something | ||
Broader (hypernym) | destroy, ruin | ||
Narrower (hyponym) | break down | ||
Cause | break, bust, fall apart, wear, wear out | ||
Verb group | break, bust, fall apart, wear, wear out | ||
Antonyms | bushel, 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 | ||
Samples | He broke the glass plate. She broke the match. | ||
Examples | The girls break the wooden sticks | ||
Pattern of use | Somebody ----s something. Something ----s something | ||
Broader (hypernym) | divide, separate | ||
Narrower (hyponym) | break in, dash, fracture, shatter, smash | ||
Verb group | break, come apart, fall apart, separate, split up | ||
6. | break (social) act in disregard of laws, rules, contracts, or promises | ||
Samples | Offend all laws of humanity. Violate the basic laws or human civilization. Break a law. Break a promise. | ||
Synonyms | breach, go against, infract, offend, transgress, violate | ||
Pattern of use | Somebody ----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 | ||
Antonyms | keep, observe | ||
7. | break (motion) move away or escape suddenly | ||
Samples | The horses broke from the stable. Three inmates broke jail. Nobody can break out--this prison is high security. | ||
Synonyms | break away, break out | ||
Pattern of use | Somebody ----s. Something is ----ing PP. Somebody ----s something. Somebody ----s PP | ||
Broader (hypernym) | break loose, escape, get away | ||
Verb group | break | ||
8. | break (motion) scatter or part | ||
Samples | The clouds broke after the heavy downpour. | ||
Pattern of use | Something ----s | ||
Broader (hypernym) | disperse, dissipate, scatter, spread out | ||
9. | break (emotion) force out or release suddenly and often violently something pent up | ||
Samples | Break into tears. Erupt in anger. | ||
Synonyms | burst, erupt | ||
Pattern of use | Somebody ----s PP | ||
Broader (hypernym) | express emotion, express feelings | ||
10. | break (change) prevent completion | ||
Samples | Stop the project. Break off the negotiations. | ||
Synonyms | break off, discontinue, stop | ||
Pattern of use | Somebody ----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 | ||
Samples | Someone broke in while I was on vacation. They broke into my car and stole my radio!. Who broke into my account last night?. | ||
Synonyms | break in | ||
Pattern of use | Somebody ----s something. Somebody ----s PP | ||
Broader (hypernym) | intrude, trespass | ||
Narrower (hyponym) | crack | ||
12. | break (change) make submissive, obedient, or useful | ||
Samples | The horse was tough to break. I broke in the new intern. | ||
Synonyms | break in | ||
Pattern of use | Somebody ----s something. Somebody ----s somebody | ||
Broader (hypernym) | domesticate, domesticise, domesticize, reclaim, tame | ||
Cause | break | ||
Verb group | break | ||
13. | break (stative) fail to agree with; be in violation of; as of rules or patterns | ||
Samples | This sentence violates the rules of syntax. | ||
Synonyms | go against, violate | ||
Pattern of use | Somebody ----s something. Something ----s something | ||
Narrower (hyponym) | fly in the face of, fly in the teeth of | ||
Antonyms | conform to | ||
14. | break (competition) surpass in excellence | ||
Samples | She bettered her own record. Break a record. | ||
Synonyms | better | ||
Pattern of use | Somebody ----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 | ||
Samples | The 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. | ||
Synonyms | bring out, disclose, discover, divulge, expose, give away, let on, let out, reveal, unwrap | ||
Pattern of use | Somebody ----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 | ||
Cause | break, get around, get out | ||
Verb group | break, get around, get out | ||
16. | break (change) come into being | ||
Samples | Light broke over the horizon. Voices broke in the air. | ||
Pattern of use | Something ----s | ||
Broader (hypernym) | become, get, go | ||
17. | break (change) stop operating or functioning | ||
Samples | The 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. | ||
Examples | These cars won't break | ||
Synonyms | break down, conk out, die, fail, give out, give way, go, go bad | ||
Pattern of use | Something ----s | ||
Broader (hypernym) | change | ||
Narrower (hyponym) | blow, blow out, burn out, crash, go down, malfunction, misfire, misfunction | ||
Verb group | break, 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 | ||
Samples | She had broken with the traditional patterns. | ||
Synonyms | break away | ||
Pattern of use | Something 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 | ||
Samples | The ranks broke. | ||
Pattern of use | Something ----s. Somebody ----s | ||
Broader (hypernym) | flee, fly, take flight | ||
Verb group | break, break away, break out | ||
Domain category | armed forces, armed services, military, military machine, war machine | ||
20. | break (motion) curl over and fall apart in surf or foam, of waves | ||
Samples | The surf broke. | ||
Pattern of use | Something ----s | ||
Broader (hypernym) | break, cave in, collapse, fall in, founder, give, give way | ||
21. | break (change) lessen in force or effect | ||
Samples | Soften a shock. Break a fall. | ||
Synonyms | damp, dampen, soften, weaken | ||
Pattern of use | Something ----s. Somebody ----s something. Something ----s something | ||
Broader (hypernym) | blunt, deaden | ||
Narrower (hyponym) | damp, dampen, deaden, deafen | ||
22. | break (change) be broken in | ||
Samples | If the new teacher won't break, we'll add some stress. | ||
Pattern of use | Somebody ----s | ||
Broader (hypernym) | change | ||
Verb group | break, break in | ||
23. | break (stative) come to an end | ||
Samples | The heat wave finally broke yesterday. | ||
Pattern of use | Something ----s | ||
Broader (hypernym) | cease, end, finish, stop, terminate | ||
24. | break (stative) vary or interrupt a uniformity or continuity | ||
Samples | The flat plain was broken by tall mesas. | ||
Pattern of use | Something ----s something | ||
Broader (hypernym) | alter, change, vary | ||
25. | break (stative) cause to give up a habit | ||
Samples | She finally broke herself of smoking cigarettes. | ||
Pattern of use | Somebody ----s somebody | ||
Cause | break | ||
Verb group | break | ||
26. | break (stative) give up | ||
Samples | Break cigarette smoking. | ||
Pattern of use | Somebody ----s something | ||
Broader (hypernym) | cease, discontinue, give up, lay off, quit, stop | ||
Verb group | break | ||
27. | break (stative) come forth or begin from a state of latency | ||
Samples | The first winter storm broke over New York. | ||
Pattern of use | Something is ----ing PP | ||
Broader (hypernym) | come forth, emerge | ||
28. | break (social) happen or take place | ||
Samples | Things have been breaking pretty well for us in the past few months. | ||
Pattern of use | Something ----s | ||
Broader (hypernym) | come about, fall out, go on, hap, happen, occur, pass, pass off, take place | ||
Domain usage | colloquialism | ||
29. | break (social) cause the failure or ruin of | ||
Samples | His peccadilloes finally broke his marriage. This play will either make or break the playwright. | ||
Pattern of use | Somebody ----s something. Something ----s something | ||
Broader (hypernym) | ruin | ||
Antonyms | make | ||
30. | break (social) invalidate by judicial action | ||
Samples | The will was broken. | ||
Pattern of use | Somebody ----s something | ||
Broader (hypernym) | annul, avoid, invalidate, nullify, quash, void | ||
31. | break (social) discontinue an association or relation; go different ways | ||
Samples | The business partners broke over a tax question. The couple separated after 25 years of marriage. My friend and I split up. | ||
Synonyms | break up, part, separate, split, split up | ||
Pattern of use | Somebody ----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 | ||
Samples | She was demoted because she always speaks up. He was broken down to Sergeant. | ||
Synonyms | bump, demote, kick downstairs, relegate | ||
Pattern of use | Somebody ----s somebody. Somebody ----s something PP | ||
Broader (hypernym) | assign, delegate, depute, designate | ||
Narrower (hyponym) | reduce, sideline | ||
Antonyms | elevate, kick upstairs, promote, upgrade, advance, raise | ||
33. | break (possession) reduce to bankruptcy | ||
Samples | My daughter's fancy wedding is going to break me!. The slump in the financial markets smashed him. | ||
Synonyms | bankrupt, ruin, smash | ||
Pattern of use | Somebody ----s somebody. Something ----s somebody | ||
Broader (hypernym) | impoverish | ||
34. | break (motion) change directions suddenly | ||
Pattern of use | Something ----s. Somebody ----s | ||
Broader (hypernym) | change, shift, switch | ||
35. | break (motion) emerge from the surface of a body of water | ||
Samples | The whales broke. | ||
Pattern of use | Something ----s | ||
Broader (hypernym) | appear | ||
36. | break (motion) break down, literally or metaphorically | ||
Samples | The 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. | ||
Synonyms | cave in, collapse, fall in, founder, give, give way | ||
Pattern of use | Something ----s. Somebody ----s | ||
Broader (hypernym) | change | ||
Narrower (hyponym) | break, buckle, crumple, flop, go off, implode, sink, slide down, slump | ||
Verb group | abandon, burst, collapse, give up | ||
37. | break (motion) do a break dance | ||
Samples | Kids were break-dancing at the street corner. | ||
Examples | Sam and Sue break | ||
Synonyms | break dance, break-dance | ||
Pattern of use | Somebody ----s | ||
Broader (hypernym) | dance, trip the light fantastic, trip the light fantastic toe | ||
38. | break (contact) exchange for smaller units of money | ||
Samples | I had to break a $100 bill just to buy the candy. | ||
Pattern of use | Somebody ----s something | ||
Broader (hypernym) | change, commute, convert, exchange | ||
Verb group | break, break up | ||
39. | break (contact) destroy the completeness of a set of related items | ||
Samples | The book dealer would not break the set. | ||
Synonyms | break up | ||
Pattern of use | Somebody ----s something | ||
Broader (hypernym) | alter, change, modify | ||
Verb group | break | ||
40. | break (contact) make the opening shot that scatters the balls | ||
Pattern of use | Somebody ----s | ||
Broader (hypernym) | shoot | ||
Domain category | billiards | ||
41. | break (contact) separate from a clinch, in boxing | ||
Samples | The referee broke the boxers. | ||
Pattern of use | Somebody ----s somebody | ||
Broader (hypernym) | disunite, divide, part, separate | ||
42. | break (contact) go to pieces | ||
Samples | The lawn mower finally broke. The gears wore out. The old chair finally fell apart completely. | ||
Synonyms | bust, fall apart, wear, wear out | ||
Pattern of use | Something ----s | ||
Broader (hypernym) | crumble, decay, dilapidate | ||
Narrower (hyponym) | fray, frazzle | ||
Verb group | break, bust | ||
43. | break (contact) break a piece from a whole | ||
Samples | Break a branch from a tree. | ||
Synonyms | break off, snap off | ||
Pattern of use | Somebody ----s something | ||
Broader (hypernym) | detach | ||
44. | break (contact) become punctured or penetrated | ||
Samples | The skin broke. | ||
Pattern of use | Something ----s | ||
Verb group | break | ||
45. | break (contact) pierce or penetrate | ||
Samples | The blade broke her skin. | ||
Pattern of use | Something ----s something | ||
Broader (hypernym) | penetrate, perforate | ||
Verb group | break | ||
46. | break (communication) be released or become known; of news | ||
Samples | News of her death broke in the morning. | ||
Synonyms | get around, get out | ||
Pattern of use | Something ----s | ||
Narrower (hyponym) | leak, leak out | ||
Verb group | break, bring out, disclose, discover, divulge, expose, give away, let on, let out, reveal, unwrap | ||
47. | break (communication) cease an action temporarily | ||
Samples | We pause for station identification. Let's break for lunch. | ||
Synonyms | intermit, pause | ||
Pattern of use | Somebody ----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 | ||
Samples | Break a circuit. | ||
Pattern of use | Somebody ----s something. Something ----s something | ||
Broader (hypernym) | break up, cut off, disrupt, interrupt | ||
49. | break (communication) undergo breaking | ||
Samples | The simple vowels broke in many Germanic languages. | ||
Pattern of use | Something ----s | ||
Broader (hypernym) | diphthongise, diphthongize | ||
50. | break (cognition) find a flaw in | ||
Samples | Break an alibi. Break down a proof. | ||
Pattern of use | Somebody ----s something. Something ----s something | ||
Broader (hypernym) | destroy, ruin | ||
Verb group | break | ||
51. | break (cognition) find the solution or key to | ||
Samples | Break the code. | ||
Pattern of use | Somebody ----s something | ||
Broader (hypernym) | figure out, lick, puzzle out, solve, work, work out | ||
Verb group | break | ||
52. | break (change) change suddenly from one tone quality or register to another | ||
Samples | Her voice broke to a whisper when she started to talk about her children. | ||
Pattern of use | Something ----s | ||
Broader (hypernym) | change, shift, switch | ||
53. | break (change) happen | ||
Samples | Report the news as it develops. These political movements recrudesce from time to time. | ||
Synonyms | develop, recrudesce | ||
Pattern of use | Something ----s | ||
Broader (hypernym) | come about, fall out, go on, hap, happen, occur, pass, pass off, take place | ||
Verb group | develop | ||
54. | break (change) become fractured; break or crack on the surface only | ||
Samples | The glass cracked when it was heated. | ||
Synonyms | check, crack | ||
Pattern of use | Something ----s | ||
Broader (hypernym) | change | ||
Narrower (hyponym) | crack | ||
Verb group | check, chink, crack | ||
55. | break (change) crack; of the male voice in puberty | ||
Samples | His voice is breaking--he should no longer sing in the choir. | ||
Pattern of use | Something ----s | ||
Broader (hypernym) | change state, turn | ||
56. | break (change) fall sharply | ||
Samples | Stock prices broke. | ||
Examples | The stock market is going to break | ||
Pattern of use | Something ----s | ||
Broader (hypernym) | decrease, diminish, fall, lessen | ||
57. | break (body) fracture a bone of | ||
Samples | I broke my foot while playing hockey. | ||
Examples | Did he break his foot? | ||
Synonyms | fracture | ||
Pattern of use | Somebody ----s something | ||
Broader (hypernym) | injure, wound | ||
Verb group | fracture | ||
58. | break (body) diminish or discontinue abruptly | ||
Samples | The patient's fever broke last night. | ||
Pattern of use | Something ----s | ||
Broader (hypernym) | decrease, diminish, fall, lessen | ||
59. | break (body) weaken or destroy in spirit or body | ||
Samples | His resistance was broken. A man broken by the terrible experience of near-death. | ||
Pattern of use | Something ----s somebody | ||
Broader (hypernym) | weaken | ||