break

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English Vietnamese dictionary

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Advanced English dictionary

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verb, noun
+ verb
(broke )
in pieces
1 ~ (sth) (in / into sth) to be damaged and separated into two or more parts, as a result of force; to damage sth in this way: [V] All the windows broke with the force of the blast. + The bag broke under the weight of the bottles inside it. + She dropped the plate and it broke into pieces. + [VN] to break a cup / window + She fell off a ladder and broke her arm. + He broke the chocolate in two.
stop working
2 to stop working as a result of being damaged; to damage sth and stop it from working: [V] My watch has broken. + [VN] I think I've broken the washing machine.
skin
3 [VN] to cut the surface of the skin and make it bleed: The dog bit me but didn't break the skin.
law / promise
4 [VN] to do sth that is against the law; to not keep a promise, etc: to break the law / rules / conditions + to break an agreement / a contract / a promise / your word + to break an appointment (= not to come to it) + He was breaking the speed limit (= travelling faster than the law allows).
stop for short time
5 ~ (for sth) to stop doing sth for a while, especially when it is time to eat or have a drink: [V] Let's break for lunch. + [VN] a broken night's sleep (= a night during which you often wake up) + (especially BrE) We broke our journey at Oxford (= stopped in Oxford on the way to the place we were going to).
end sth
6 [VN] to interrupt sth so that it ends suddenly: She broke the silence by coughing. + A tree broke his fall (= stopped him as he was falling). + The phone rang and broke my train of thought. + Someone laughed suddenly and the spell was broken.
7 [VN] to make sth end by using force or strong action: an attempt to break the year-long siege + Management has not succeeded in breaking the strike.
8 [VN] to end a connection with sth or a relationship with sb: He broke all links with the Communist party.
escape
9 [V +adv./prep.] ~ free (from sb/sth) (of a person or an object) to get away from or out of a position in which they are stuck or trapped: He finally managed to break free from his attacker.
destroy
10 to destroy sth or make sb/sth weaker; to become weak or be destroyed: [VN] to break sb's morale / resistance / resolve / spirit + The government was determined to break the power of the trade unions. + The scandal broke him (= ruined his reputation and destroyed his confidence). + [V] She broke under questioning (= was no longer able to bear it) and confessed to everything.
make sb feel bad
11 [VN] to make sb feel so sad, lonely, etc. that they cannot live a normal life: The death of his wife broke him completely.
of weather
12 [V] to change suddenly, usually after a period when it has been fine
show opening
13 [V] to show an opening: The clouds broke and the sun came out.
of day / dawn / storm
14 [V] when the day or DAWN or a storm breaks, it begins: Dawn was breaking when they finally left.
See also - DAYBREAK
of news
15 [V] if a piece of news breaks, it becomes known: There was a public outcry when the scandal broke.
of voice
16 [V] if sb's voice breaks, it changes its tone because of emotion: Her voice broke as she told us the dreadful news.
17 [V] when a boy's voice breaks, it becomes permanently deeper at about the age of 13 or 14
a record
18 [VN] to do sth better, faster, etc. than anyone has ever done it before: She had broken the world 100 metres record. + The movie broke all box-office records.
of waves
19 [V] when waves break, they fall and are dissolved into FOAM, usually near the shore: the sound of waves breaking on the beach + The sea was breaking over the wrecked ship.
sth secret
20 [VN] to find the meaning of sth secret: to break a code
money
21 [VN] (especially AmE) to change a BANKNOTE for coins: Can you break a twenty dollar bill?
Idioms: Idioms containing break are at the entries for the nouns and adjectives in the idioms, for example break sb's heart is at heart.
Phrasal Verbs: break away (from sb/sth)
1 to escape suddenly from sb who is holding you or keeping you prisoner: The prisoner broke away from his guards.
2 to leave a political party, state, etc., especially to form a new one: The people of the province wished to break away and form a new state.
related noun BREAKAWAY
3 to move away from a crowd or group, especially in a race: She broke away from the pack and opened up a two second lead.
break down
1 (of a machine or vehicle) to stop working because of a fault: The telephone system has broken down. + We (= the car) broke down on the freeway.
related noun BREAKDOWN
2 to fail: Negotiations between the two sides have broken down.
related noun BREAKDOWN
3 to become very bad: Her health broke down under the pressure of work.
See also - NERVOUS BREAKDOWN
4 to lose control of your feelings and start crying: He broke down and wept when he heard the news.
5 to divide into parts to be analysed: Expenditure on the project breaks down as follows:
wages $10m, plant $4m, raw materials $5m.
break sth<->down
1 to make sth fall down, open, etc. by hitting it hard: Firefighters had to break the door down to reach the people trapped inside.
2 to destroy sth or make it disappear, especially a particular feeling or attitude that sb has: to break down resistance / opposition + to break down sb's reserve / shyness + Attempts must be made to break down the barriers of fear and hostility which divide the two communities.
3 to divide sth into parts in order to analyse it or make it easier to do: Break your expenditure down into bills, food and other. + Each lesson is broken down into several units.
related noun BREAKDOWN
4 to make a substance separate into parts or change into a different form in a chemical process: Sugar and starch are broken down in the stomach.
related noun BREAKDOWN
break for sth to suddenly run towards sth when you are trying to escape: She had to hold him back as he tried to break for the door.
break in to enter a building by force: Burglars had broken in while we were away.
related noun BREAK-IN
break sb/sth in
1 to train sb/sth in sth new that they must do: to break in new recruits + The young horse was not yet broken in (= trained to carry a rider).
2 to wear sth, especially new shoes, until they become comfortable
break in (on sth) to interrupt or disturb sth: She longed to break in on their conversation but didn't want to appear rude. + [+ speech] 'I didn't do it!' she broke in.
break into sth
1 to enter a building by force; to open a car, etc. by force: We had our car broken into last week.
related noun BREAK-IN
2 to begin laughing, singing, etc. suddenly: As the President's car drew up, the crowd broke into loud applause.
3 to suddenly start running; to start running faster than before: He broke into a run when he saw the police. + Her horse broke into a trot.
4 (BrE) to use a BANKNOTE of high value to buy sth that costs less: I had to break into a £20 to pay the bus fare.
5 to open and use sth that has been kept for an emergency: They had to break into the emergency food supplies.
6 to be successful when you get involved in sth: The company is having difficulty breaking into new markets.
break off
1 to become separated from sth as a result of force: The back section of the plane had broken off.
2 to stop speaking or stop doing sth for a time: He broke off in the middle of a sentence.
break sth<->off
1 to separate sth, using force: She broke off a piece of chocolate and gave it to me.
2 to end sth suddenly: Britain threatened to break off diplomatic relations. + They've broken off their engagement.
break out (of war, fighting or other unpleasant events) to start suddenly: They had escaped to America shortly before war broke out in 1939. + Fighting had broken out between rival groups of fans. + Fire broke out during the night.
related noun OUTBREAK
break out (of sth) to escape from a place or situation: Several prisoners broke out of the jail. + She needed to break out of her daily routine and do something exciting.
related noun BREAKOUT
break out in sth to suddenly become covered in sth: Her face broke out in a rash. + He broke out in a cold sweat (= for example, through fear).
break through to make new and important discoveries: Scientists think they are beginning to break through in the fight against cancer.
related noun BREAKTHROUGH
break through
break through sth
1 to make a way through sth using force: Demonstrators broke through the police cordon. + There was a police cordon around the site but the demonstrators still broke through.
2 (of the sun or moon) to appear from behind clouds: The sun broke through at last in the afternoon. + At last the moon broke through the clouds and they could see their way.
break through sth to succeed in dealing with an attitude that sb has and the difficulties it creates
Synonym: OVERCOME
He had finally managed to break through her reserve.
break up
1 to separate into smaller pieces: The ship broke up on the rocks.
2 to come to an end: Their marriage has broken up.
related noun BREAK-UP
3 to go away in different directions: The meeting broke up at eleven o'clock.
4 (especially BrE) to begin the holidays when school closes at the end of a TERM: When do you break up for Christmas?
5 (BrE) to become very weak: He was breaking up under the strain.
6 (AmE) to laugh very hard: Woody Allen makes me just break up.
break sth<->up
1 to make sth separate into smaller pieces; to divide sth into smaller parts: The ship was broken up for scrap metal. + Sentences can be broken up into clauses.
2 to end a relationship, a company, etc: They decided to break up the partnership.
related noun BREAK-UP
3 to make people leave sth or stop doing sth, especially by using force: Police were called in to break up the fight.
break up (with sb) to end a relationship with sb: She's just broken up with her boyfriend.
related noun BREAK-UP
break with sth to end a connection with sth: to break with tradition / old habits / the past + He broke with the party on the issue of Europe.
+ noun
short stop / pause
1 [C] a short period of time when you stop what you are doing and rest, eat, etc: a coffee / lunch / tea break + Let's take a break. + a break for lunch + She worked all day without a break.
2 (also break time) (both BrE) (AmE recess) [U] a period of time between lessons at school: Come and see me at break.
3 [C] a pause or period of time when sth stops before starting again: a break in my daily routine + She wanted to take a career break in order to have children.
4 [C] a pause for advertisements in the middle of a television or radio programme: More news after the break.
holiday / vacation
5 [C] a short holiday/vacation: We had a weekend break in New York. + a well-earned break
change in situation
6 [sing.] ~ (in sth)
~ (with sb/sth) the moment when a situation that has existed for a time changes, ends or is interrupted: He needed to make a complete break with the past. + a break with tradition / convention (= a change from what is accepted, in sth such as art, behaviour, etc.) + a break in the weather (= a change from one type of weather to a different one) + a break in diplomatic relations
opening / space
7 [C] ~ (in sth) a space or an opening between two or more things: We could see the moon through a break in the clouds. + Wait for a break in the traffic before crossing the road.
opportunity
8 [C] (informal) an opportunity to do sth, usually to get sth that you want or to achieve success: I got my lucky break when I won a 'Young Journalist of the Year' competition. + We've had a few bad breaks (= pieces of bad luck) along the way. + If you just give me a break, you won't regret it.
of bone
9 [C] a place where sth, especially a bone in your body, has broken: The X-ray showed there was no break in his leg.
in tennis
10 (also break of serve) [C] a win in a game in which your opponent is SERVING: It was her second break in the set. + break point (= a situation in which, if you win the next point, you win the game)
in billiards / snooker
11 [C] a series of successful shots by one player; the number of points scored in a series of successful shots: He's put together a magnificent break. + a 147 break (= the highest possible break in SNOOKER) + The champion began with breaks of 74 and 58.
Idioms: break of day / dawn (literary) the moment in the early hours of the morning when it begins to get light
give me a break! (spoken) used when sb wants sb else to stop doing or saying sth that is annoying, or to stop saying sth that is not true
give sb a break to give sb a chance; to not judge sb too harshly: Give the lad a break-it's only his second day on the job.
make a break for sth / for it to run towards sth in order to try and escape: He suddenly leapt up and made a break for the door. + They decided to make a break for it (= to try and escape) that night.
more at CLEAN adj.
WHICH WORD?
break / recess / interval / intermission / interlude / pause
All these words mean the short time when an activity stops before it starts again, but they are used in different situations.
A break is a rest during the working day: a lunch / coffee break + I'm exhausted - I need a break.
At school, children have break [U] (BrE) or recess [U] (AmE): Come and see me at break/recess.
Recess is also the time when Parliament or Congress is officially not working, or when work stops in a court of law.
An interval (BrE) or intermission [C,U] (AmE) is the period between the parts of a play, concert, etc: We had a quick drink in the interval.
An interlude may be a short space of time between the parts of a play, etc., or a period of time during a longer activity when something different happens: Her time in Paris was a happy interlude in a difficult career.
Pause is often applied to speech: a pause for breath + After a pause, she said 'Yes.'
VOCABULARY BUILDING
words that mean 'break'
burst The balloon hit a tree and burst.
crack The ice started to crack.
crumble Crumble the cheese into a bowl.
cut Now cut the wire in two.
fracture He fell and fractured his hip.
shatter The vase hit the floor and shattered.
smash Vandals had smashed two windows.
snap I snapped the pencil in half.
split The bag had split open on the way home.
tear She tore the letter into pieces.
All these verbs, except cut, can be used with or with-out an object.

Thesaurus dictionary

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v.

1 break apart or up or asunder, fracture, rupture, break into bits, come apart, shatter, shiver, crack, crash, splinter, fragment, split, burst, explode, Colloq bust:

The ball flew over the fence and broke my neighbour's window. She fell and broke her wrist.

2 reveal, announce, disclose, divulge, tell, make public:

Break the news to him gently.

3 relax, ease up, improve, ameliorate, change for the better:

When will this spell of wet weather break?

4 demolish, smash, destroy, crush, ruin, defeat, foil, frustrate:

The power of the dictator was finally broken.

5 ruin, bankrupt:

He's the man that broke the bank at Monte Carlo.

6 weary, exhaust, wear out, weaken, debilitate:

Twenty years in the chain-gang had broken him completely.

7 crush, overcome; cow, cripple, demoralize, weaken, undermine, discourage:

The divorce has broken her spirit.

8 break in, tame, discipline, train, condition:

I used to break horses for a living.

9 violate, transgress, disobey, contravene, defy, infringe, fail to observe, ignore, disregard, flout:

If you break the law, you'll regret it. They broke the contract.

10 break off, discontinue, interrupt, sever, cut off; give up, suspend, disrupt:

We broke relations with Spain after the incident. It is very difficult to break a habit of a lifetime. The narrative breaks at this point, to be taken up later.

11 break up, divide, disperse, scatter:

The rain is over and the clouds are breaking.

12 break loose or away or forth, separate from, break out (of), escape (from), depart (from):

The ship broke from its moorings during the storm.

13 break forth, burst forth; emerge or come out suddenly:

The storm broke in all its fury. After a little while, the sun broke through.

14 demote, Colloq bust:

He was broken from sergeant to private.

15 break away. leave, depart, separate (oneself):

A small group broke away from the established church to worship as they saw fit.

16 break down.

(a) demolish, destroy:

All right, men, let's break down that wall.

(b) decompose, break up; analyse:

The carbon dioxide molecules and water are broken down by photosynthesis.

(c) collapse, give way, disintegrate, be crushed, be prostrated:

His health has broken down completely.

17 break ground. initiate, begin, commence, found, set up, establish, inaugurate, be innovative, innovate, Colloq break the ice, take the plunge, start the ball rolling:

Laser printers have broken new ground in the area of computer printout.

18 break in.

(a) interrupt, interpose, interject, burst in, intrude, intervene, interfere, disturb:

If the results of the election become known, we shall break in to keep you informed.

(b) train, educate, prepare; accustom, condition, habituate, wear:

We'll break you in for a week or two on the new machine. Wear your new boots for an hour each day to break them in.

(c) rob, burgle, burglarize, break and enter:

Someone broke in and stole my video recorder last night.

19 break off.

(a) discontinue, stop, cease, end:

Sally broke off in mid sentence.

After the Fashoda Incident, Britain broke off relations with France.

(b) disengage; sever, detach, break:

A large branch broke off from the tree and crashed down, narrowly missing me.

20 break out.

(a) escape; emerge, appear:

She broke out of prison in 1985 and hasn't been seen since.

(b) erupt, come out in, break out in or into:

He breaks out in a rash from eating strawberries. A war could break out any minute.

21 break the ice. See 17, above.

22 break through. penetrate, force or get through:

Wit, like beauty, can break through the most unpromising disguise.

23 break up. See also 11, 16 (b), above.

(a) disband, disperse; disintegrate:

Heraclius succeeded in breaking up the Persian power.

(b) fracture, fragment, comminute:

In the spring, the ice on the river breaks up.

(c) See 24 (a), below.

24 break with.

(a) break up (with), separate from, leave, depart from:

The leader broke with the party and established a new organization. Sally has broken up with Michael.

(b) renounce, repudiate, disavow:

They have broken entirely with the traditions we valued so highly.

n.

25 fracture, split, separation, rupture, breach, rift, schism:

There was a break in a gas pipe. Disagreement over the fishing grounds has resulted in a break in relations.

26 gap, opening, hole; crack, slit:

You can escape through a break in the wall near the bridge.

27 interruption, discontinuity, discontinuation, hesitation, suspension, hiatus, gap, lacuna, unevenness, irregularity:

There was a five-minute break in transmission from the ship.

28 rest, respite, rest period, coffee-break, tea break, intermission, interlude, lull, pause, playtime, US recess, Colloq breather:

We take a break at ten o'clock.

29 chance, stroke of luck, opportunity, opening:

All he needs is a break to get started.

Collocation dictionary

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¹ short rest/holiday

ADJ.

short | coffee, lunch, tea | Christmas, Easter

Are you going away for the Easter break?

VERB + BREAK

have, take

We'll take a break now and resume in half an hour.

| need

BREAK + NOUN

time

PREP.

at ~

I'll see you at break.

| during (a/the) ~

I had a word with John during the break.

| without a ~

We worked all day without a break.

| ~ for

a break for lunch

| ~ from

a break from looking after the children

² change/interruption in sth

ADJ.

clean, complete | career | commercial

VERB + BREAK

make

His new work makes a break with the past. I wanted to leave but was nervous about making the break.

PREP.

~ from

a break from tradition

| ~ in

a break in the weather

| ~ with

³ opportunity

ADJ.

big, lucky

VERB + BREAK

get

I always knew I would get my lucky break one day.

| give sb

He's the director who gave her her first big break.

ADV.

easily | in half, in two

She broke the chocolate bar in two and gave a piece to me.

| up

She broke the chocolate up into small pieces.

PREP.

into

The glass broke into hundreds of pieces.

PHRASAL VERBS break down

¹ fail

ADV.

completely, irretrievably

They were divorced on the grounds that their marriage had broken down irretrievably.

² start crying

PHRASES

break down and cry/weep, break down in tears

She broke down in tears as she spoke to reporters.

break off

ADV.

abruptly

He broke off abruptly when Jo walked in.

PREP.

from

She broke off from the conversation to answer the telephone.

Concise English dictionary

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broke|broken|breaks|breakingbreɪk
noun
+some abrupt occurrence that interrupts an ongoing activity
+an unexpected piece of good luck
+(geology) a crack in the earth's crust resulting from the displacement of one side with respect to the other
+a personal or social separation (as between opposing factions)
+a pause from doing something (as work)
+the act of breaking something
+a time interval during which there is a temporary cessation of something
+breaking of hard tissue such as bone
+the occurrence of breaking
+an abrupt change in the tone or register of the voice (as at puberty or due to emotion)
+the opening shot that scatters the balls in billiards or pool
+(tennis) a score consisting of winning a game when your opponent was serving
+an act of delaying or interrupting the continuity
+a sudden dash
+any frame in which a bowler fails to make a strike or spare
+an escape from jail
verb
+terminate
+become separated into pieces or fragments
+destroy the integrity of; usually by force; cause to separate into pieces or fragments
+render inoperable or ineffective
+ruin completely
+act in disregard of laws, rules, contracts, or promises
+move away or escape suddenly
+scatter or part
+force out or release suddenly and often violently something pent up
+prevent completion
+enter someone's property in an unauthorized manner, usually with the intent to steal or commit a violent act
+make submissive, obedient, or useful
+fail to agree with; be in violation of; as of rules or patterns
+surpass in excellence
+make known to the public information that was previously known only to a few people or that was meant to be kept a secret
+come into being
+stop operating or functioning
+interrupt a continued activity
+make a rupture in the ranks of the enemy or one's own by quitting or fleeing
+curl over and fall apart in surf or foam, of waves
+lessen in force or effect
+be broken in
+come to an end
+vary or interrupt a uniformity or continuity
+cause to give up a habit
+give up
+come forth or begin from a state of latency
+happen or take place
+cause the failure or ruin of
+invalidate by judicial action
+discontinue an association or relation; go different ways
+assign to a lower position; reduce in rank
+reduce to bankruptcy
+change directions suddenly
+emerge from the surface of a body of water
+break down, literally or metaphorically
+do a break dance
+exchange for smaller units of money
+destroy the completeness of a set of related items
+make the opening shot that scatters the balls
+separate from a clinch, in boxing
+go to pieces
+break a piece from a whole
+become punctured or penetrated
+pierce or penetrate
+be released or become known; of news
+cease an action temporarily
+interrupt the flow of current in
+undergo breaking
+find a flaw in
+find the solution or key to
+change suddenly from one tone quality or register to another
+happen
+become fractured; break or crack on the surface only
+crack; of the male voice in puberty
+fall sharply
+fracture a bone of
+diminish or discontinue abruptly
+weaken or destroy in spirit or body

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