Definition of "Break" :

noun: an escape from jail

"The breakout was carefully planned."

noun: any frame in which a bowler fails to make a strike or spare

"The break in the eighth frame cost him the match."

noun: a sudden dash

"He made a break for the open door."

noun: the act of breaking something

"The breakage was unavoidable."

noun: an act of delaying or interrupting the continuity

"It was presented without commercial breaks."

noun: (tennis) a score consisting of winning a game when your opponent was serving

"He was up two breaks in the second set."

noun: the opening shot that scatters the balls in billiards or pool

noun: a pause from doing something (as work)

"We took a 10-minute break."

noun: an abrupt change in the tone or register of the voice (as at puberty or due to emotion)

"Then there was a break in her voice."

noun: a personal or social separation (as between opposing factions)

"They hoped to avoid a break in relations."

noun: an unexpected piece of good luck

"He finally got his big break."

noun: the occurrence of breaking

"The break in the dam threatened the valley."

noun: some abrupt occurrence that interrupts an ongoing activity

"There was a break in the action when a player was hurt."

noun: (geology) a crack in the earth's crust resulting from the displacement of one side with respect to the other

noun: breaking of hard tissue such as bone

"The break seems to have been caused by a fall."

noun: a time interval during which there is a temporary cessation of something

verb: weaken or destroy in spirit or body

verb: diminish or discontinue abruptly

verb: fracture a bone of

verb: fall sharply

verb: make submissive, obedient, or useful

"The horse was tough to break."

verb: be broken in

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

verb: crack; of the male voice in puberty

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

verb: render inoperable or ineffective

verb: become separated into pieces or fragments

verb: destroy the integrity of; usually by force; cause to separate into pieces or fragments

verb: become fractured; break or crack on the surface only

verb: happen

verb: prevent completion

"Break off the negotiations."

verb: terminate

"Break a lucky streak."

verb: lessen in force or effect

"Break a fall."

verb: stop operating or functioning

verb: change suddenly from one tone quality or register to another

verb: come into being

verb: find the solution or key to

"Break the code."

verb: find a flaw in

"Break an alibi."

verb: undergo breaking

verb: interrupt the flow of current in

"Break a circuit."

verb: cease an action temporarily

"Let's break for lunch."

verb: make known to the public information that was previously known only to a few people or that was meant to be kept a secret

verb: be released or become known; of news

verb: surpass in excellence

"Break a record."

verb: pierce or penetrate

verb: become punctured or penetrated

verb: break a piece from a whole

"Break a branch from a tree."

verb: go to pieces

verb: ruin completely

verb: separate from a clinch, in boxing

verb: make the opening shot that scatters the balls

verb: destroy the completeness of a set of related items

"The book dealer would not break the set."

verb: exchange for smaller units of money

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

verb: force out or release suddenly and often violently something pent up

"Break into tears."

verb: do a break dance

"Kids were break-dancing at the street corner."

verb: curl over and fall apart in surf or foam, of waves

verb: break down, literally or metaphorically

verb: emerge from the surface of a body of water

verb: scatter or part

verb: make a rupture in the ranks of the enemy or one's own by quitting or fleeing

verb: move away or escape suddenly

"Nobody can break out--this prison is high security."

verb: change directions suddenly

verb: reduce to bankruptcy

"My daughter's fancy wedding is going to break me!."

verb: assign to a lower position; reduce in rank

verb: discontinue an association or relation; go different ways

verb: invalidate by judicial action

verb: interrupt a continued activity

verb: cause the failure or ruin of

"This play will either make or break the playwright."

verb: act in disregard of laws, rules, contracts, or promises

"Break a law."

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

verb: happen or take place

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

verb: come forth or begin from a state of latency

verb: fail to agree with; be in violation of; as of rules or patterns

verb: give up

"Break cigarette smoking."

verb: cause to give up a habit

verb: vary or interrupt a uniformity or continuity

verb: come to an end