English verb: break in | |||
1. | break in (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 | ||
Pattern of use | Somebody ----s. Somebody ----s something | ||
Broader (hypernym) | intrude, trespass | ||
Narrower (hyponym) | crack | ||
2. | break in (communication) break into a conversation | ||
Samples | Her husband always chimes in, even when he is not involved in the conversation. | ||
Synonyms | barge in, butt in, chime in, chisel in, cut in, put in | ||
Pattern of use | Somebody ----s | ||
Broader (hypernym) | break up, cut off, disrupt, interrupt | ||
Narrower (hyponym) | disrupt, interrupt | ||
3. | break in (change) start in a certain activity, enterprise, or role | ||
Pattern of use | Somebody ----s | ||
Broader (hypernym) | begin, commence, get, get down, set about, set out, start, start out | ||
4. | break in (contact) intrude on uninvited | ||
Samples | The nosy couple broke in on our conversation. | ||
Pattern of use | Somebody ----s PP | ||
Broader (hypernym) | intrude, irrupt | ||
5. | break in (change) break so as to fall inward | ||
Samples | He broke in the door. | ||
Pattern of use | Somebody ----s something. Something ----s something | ||
Broader (hypernym) | break | ||
Narrower (hyponym) | stave in | ||
6. | break in (change) make submissive, obedient, or useful | ||
Samples | The horse was tough to break. I broke in the new intern. | ||
Synonyms | break | ||
Pattern of use | Somebody ----s something. Somebody ----s somebody | ||
Broader (hypernym) | domesticate, domesticise, domesticize, reclaim, tame | ||
Cause | break | ||
Verb group | break | ||