break
To separate into two or more pieces, to fracture or crack, by a process that cannot easily be reversed for reassembly.
Verb 4 meanings
To separate into two or more pieces, to fracture or crack, by a process that cannot easily be reversed for reassembly.
“If the vase falls to the floor, it might break.”
To cause (a person or animal) to lose spirit or will; to crush the spirits of.
“Her child’s death broke Angela.”
To destroy the strength, firmness, or consistency of.
“to break flax”
To interrupt; to destroy the continuity of; to dissolve or terminate.
“I’ve got to break this habit I have of biting my nails. Can you break this habit of mine?”
Noun 4 meanings
An instance of breaking something into two or more pieces.
“The femur has a clean break and so should heal easily.”
A physical space that opens up in something or between two things.
“The sun came out in a break in the clouds.”
An interruption of continuity; departure from or rupture with.
A rest or pause, usually from work.
“Let’s take a five-minute break.”
Etymology
From Middle English breken, from Old English brecan (“to break”), from Proto-West Germanic *brekan, from Proto-Germanic *brekaną (“to break”), from Proto-Indo-European *bʰreg- (“to break”). Doublet of bray.
Similar and opposite words
BREAK at a glance
BREAK has 5 letters and scores 11 points in Scrabble (B 3 + R 1 + E 1 + A 1 + K 5) and 12 in Words With Friends, before board bonuses. It ranks #638 by how often it appears in everyday English. It is valid in ENABLE, NWL2023, Collins/SOWPODS.
Rhymes with break
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