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break
 
Noun break has 15 senses
  1. interruption, break - some abrupt occurrence that interrupts; "the telephone is an annoying interruption"; "there was a break in the action when a player was hurt"
    --1 is a kind of happening, occurrence, natural event
    --1 has particulars:
     dislocation, disruption; punctuation; suspension, respite, reprieve, hiatus, abatement; eclipse, occultation
    Derived form: verb break24
  2. break, good luck, happy chance - an unexpected piece of good luck; "he finally got his big break"
    --2 is a kind of accident, fortuity, chance event
  3. fault, geological fault, shift, fracture, break - (geology) a crack in the earth's crust resulting from the displacement of one side with respect to the other; "they built it right over a geological fault"
    --3 is a kind of crack, cleft, crevice, fissure, scissure
    --3 has parts: fault line
    --3 has particulars:
     Denali Fault; inclined fault; San Andreas Fault; strike-slip fault
    Derived form: verb break2
  4. rupture, breach, break, severance, rift, falling out - a personal or social separation (as between opposing factions); "they hoped to avoid a break in relations"
    --4 is a kind of separation, breakup, detachment
    Derived form: verb break31
  5. respite, recess, break, time out - a pause from doing something (as work); "we took a 10-minute break"; "he took time out to recuperate"
    --5 is a kind of pause
    --5 has particulars: spring break
    Derived form: verb break47
  6. breakage, break, breaking - the act of breaking something; "the breakage was unavoidable"
    --6 is a kind of change of integrity
    --6 has particulars:
     rupture; smashing, shattering; fracture, crack, cracking; chip, chipping, splintering
    Derived forms: verb break3, verb break2
  7. pause, intermission, break, interruption, suspension - a time interval during which there is a temporary cessation of something
    --7 is a kind of time interval, interval
    --7 has particulars:
     lapse; blackout; caesura; dead air; delay, hold, time lag, postponement, wait; halftime; respite, rest, relief, rest period; time-out; letup, lull
    Derived form: verb break18
  8. fracture, break - breaking of hard tissue such as bone; "it was a nasty fracture"; "the break seems to have been caused by a fall"
    --8 is a kind of injury, hurt, harm, trauma
    --8 has particulars:
     comminuted fracture; complete fracture; compound fracture, open fracture; compression fracture; depressed fracture; displaced fracture; fatigue fracture, stress fracture; hairline fracture, capillary fracture; incomplete fracture; impacted fracture; simple fracture, closed fracture
    Derived forms: verb break54, verb break57
  9. break - the occurrence of breaking; "the break in the dam threatened the valley"
    --9 is a kind of     separation, breakup, detachment
    --9 has particulars: snap
    Derived form: verb break2
  10. break - the opening shot that scatters the balls in billiards or pool
    --10 is a kind of     stroke, shot
    --10 is a part of billiards; pool, pocket billiards
    Derived form: verb break40
  11. break, break of serve - (tennis) a score consisting of winning a game when your opponent was serving; "he was up two breaks in the second set"
    --11 is a kind of score
  12. break, interruption, disruption, gap - an act of delaying or interrupting the continuity; "it was presented without commercial breaks"
    --12 is a kind of delay, holdup
    --12 has particulars:
     cut-in, insert; cut-in, insert; interjection, interposition, interpolation, interpellation; breaking off, abruption; heckling, barracking
  13. break - a sudden dash; "he made a break for the open door"
    --13 is a kind of     dash, sprint
    --13 has particulars: fast break
  14. open frame, break - any frame in which a bowler fails to make a strike or spare; "the break in the eighth frame cost him the match"
    --14 is a kind of score
  15. break, breakout, jailbreak, gaolbreak, prisonbreak, prison-breaking - an escape from jail; "the breakout was carefully planned"
    --15 is a kind of escape, flight
    Derived form: verb break7
Verb break has 59 senses
  1. interrupt, break - terminate; "She interrupted her pregnancy"; "break a lucky streak"; "break the cycle of poverty"
    --1 is one way to end, terminate
    Sample sentences:
    Somebody ----s something
    Something ----s something
  2. break, separate, split up, fall apart, come apart - become separated into pieces or fragments; "The figurine broke"; "The freshly baked loaf fell apart"
    --2 is one way to change integrity
    Derived forms: noun break3, noun break9, noun break6
    Sample sentences:
    The wooden sticks break
    These glasses break easily
  3. break - destroy the integrity of; usually by force; cause to separate into pieces or fragments; "He broke the glass plate"; "She broke the match"
    --3 is one way to     separate, divide
    Derived forms: noun break6, noun breakage3, noun breaker1
    Sample sentence:
    The girls break the wooden sticks
  4. break - render inoperable or ineffective; "You broke the alarm clock when you took it apart!"
    --4 is one way to     damage
    Derived form: noun breakage3
    Sample sentences:
    Somebody ----s something
    Something ----s something
  5. break, bust - ruin completely; "He busted my radio!"
    --5 is one way to destroy, ruin
    Antonyms: repair, mend, fix, bushel, doctor, furbish up, restore, touch on
    Derived form: noun breakage3
    Sample sentences:
    Somebody ----s something
    Something ----s something
  6. transgress, offend, infract, violate, go against, breach, break - act in disregard of laws and rules; "offend all laws of humanity"; "violate the basic laws or human civilization"; "break a law"
    --6 is one way to disrespect
    Sample sentence:
    Somebody ----s something
  7. break, break out, break away - move away or escape suddenly; "The horses broke from the stable"; "Three inmates broke jail"; "Nobody can break out--this prison is high security"
    --7 is one way to escape, get away, break loose
    Derived form: noun break15
    Sample sentences:
    Somebody ----s
    Something is ----ing PP
    Somebody ----s PP
    => Somebody ----s something
  8. break - scatter or part; "The clouds broke after the heavy downpour"
    --8 is one way to     disperse, dissipate, scatter, spread out
    Sample sentence:
    Something ----s
  9. break, burst, erupt - force out or release suddenly and often violently something pent up; "break into tears"; "erupt in anger"
    --9 is one way to express emotion, express feelings
    Sample sentence:
    Somebody ----s PP
  10. break, break off, discontinue, stop - prevent completion; "stop the project"; "break off the negociations"
    --10 is one way to end, terminate
    Sample sentences:
    Somebody ----s something
    Something ----s something
  11. break in, break - enter someone's property in an unauthorized manner, usually with the intent to steal or commit a violent act; "Someone broke in while I was on vacation"; "They broke into my car and stole my radio!"
    --11 is one way to trespass, intrude
    Sample sentences:
    Somebody ----s something
    => Somebody ----s PP
  12. break in, break - make submissive, obedient, or useful; "The horse was tough to break"; "I broke in the new intern"
    --12 is one way to domesticate, domesticize, domesticise, reclaim, tame
    Sample sentences:
    Somebody ----s something
    Somebody ----s somebody
  13. violate, go against, break - fail to agree with; be in violation of; as of rules or patterns; "This sentence violates the rules of syntax"
    Sample sentences:
    Somebody ----s something
    Something ----s something
  14. better, break - surpass in excellence; "She bettered her own record"; "break a record"
    --14 is one way to surpass, outstrip, outmatch, outgo, exceed, outdo, surmount, outperform
    Sample sentence:
    Somebody ----s something
  15. disclose, let on, bring out, reveal, discover, expose, divulge, impart, break, give away, let out - make known to the public information that was previously known only to a few people or that was meant to be kept a secret; "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"
    --15 is one way to tell
    Sample sentences:
    Somebody ----s something
    Something ----s something
    Somebody ----s something to somebody
    Somebody ----s that CLAUSE
  16. break - come into being; "light broke over the horizon"; "Voices broke in the air"
    --16 is one way to     become, go, get
    Sample sentence:
    Something ----s
  17. fail, go bad, give way, die, give out, conk out, go, break, break down - stop operating or functioning; "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"
    --17 is one way to change
    Sample sentence:
    These cars won't break
  18. break, break away - interrupt a continued activity; "She had broken with the traditional patterns"
    --18 is one way to separate, part, split up, split, break, break up
    Derived form: noun break7
    Sample sentences:
    Something is ----ing PP
    Somebody ----s PP
  19. break - make a rupture in the ranks of the enemy or one's own by quitting or fleeing; "The ranks broke"
    --19 is one way to     flee, fly, take flight
    Sample sentences:
    Something ----s
    Somebody ----s
  20. break - curl over and fall apart in surf or foam, of waves; "The surf broke"
    --20 is one way to     collapse, fall in, cave in, give, give way, break, founder
    Derived form: noun breaker2
    Sample sentence:
    Something ----s
  21. dampen, damp, soften, weaken, break - lessen in force or effect; "soften a shock"; "break a fall"
    --21 is one way to deaden, blunt
    Sample sentences:
    Something ----s
    Somebody ----s something
    Something ----s something
  22. break - be broken in; "If the new teacher won't break, we'll add some stress"
    --22 is one way to     change
    Sample sentence:
    Somebody ----s
  23. break - come to an end; "The heat wave finally broke yesterday"
    --23 is one way to     end, stop, finish, terminate, cease
    Sample sentence:
    Something ----s
  24. break - vary or interrupt a uniformity or continuity; "The flat plain was broken by tall mesas"
    --24 is one way to     change, alter, vary
    Derived form: noun break1
    Sample sentence:
    Something ----s something
  25. break - cause to give up a habit; "She finally broke herself of smoking cigarettes"
    Sample sentence:
    Somebody ----s somebody
  26. break - give up; "break cigarette smoking"
    --26 is one way to     discontinue, stop, cease, give up, quit, lay off
    Sample sentence:
    Somebody ----s something
  27. break - come forth or begin from a state of latency; "The first winter storm broke over New York"
    --27 is one way to     come forth, emerge
    Sample sentence:
    Something is ----ing PP
  28. break - happen or take place; "Things have been breaking pretty well for us in the past few months"
    --28 is one way to     happen, hap, go on, pass off, occur, pass, fall out, come about, take place
    Sample sentence:
    Something ----s
  29. break - cause the failure or ruin of; "His peccadilloes finally broke his marriage"; "This play will either make or break the playwright"
    --29 is one way to     ruin
    Antonyms: make
    Sample sentences:
    Somebody ----s something
    Something ----s something
  30. break - invalidate by judicial action; "The will was broken"
    --30 is one way to     invalidate, annul, quash, void, avoid, nullify
    Sample sentence:
    Somebody ----s something
  31. separate, part, split up, split, break, break up - discontinue an association or relation; go different ways; "The business partners broke over a tax question"; "The couple separated after 25 years of marriage"; "My friend and I split up"
    Derived form: noun break4
    Sample sentence:
    Somebody ----s
  32. demote, bump, relegate, break, kick downstairs - assign to a lower position; reduce in rank; "She was demoted because she always speaks up"; "He was broken down to Sargeant"
    --32 is one way to delegate, designate, depute, assign
    Sample sentences:
    Somebody ----s somebody
    Somebody ----s something PP
  33. bankrupt, ruin, break, smash - reduce to bankruptcy; "My daughter's fancy wedding is going to break me!"; "The slump in the financial markets smashed him"
    --33 is one way to impoverish
    Sample sentences:
    Somebody ----s somebody
    Something ----s somebody
  34. break - change directions suddenly
    --34 is one way to     switch, shift, change
    Sample sentences:
    Something ----s
    Somebody ----s
  35. break - emerge from the surface of a body of water; "The whales broke"
    --35 is one way to     appear
    Sample sentence:
    Something ----s
  36. collapse, fall in, cave in, give, give way, break, founder - break down, literally or metaphorically; "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"
    --36 is one way to change
    Sample sentences:
    Something ----s
    Somebody ----s
  37. break dance, break-dance, break - do a break dance; "Kids were break-dancing at the street corner"
    --37 is one way to dance, trip the light fantastic, trip the light fantastic toe
    Sample sentence:
    Sam and Sue break
  38. break - exchange for smaller units of money; "I had to break a $100 bill just to buy the candy"
    --38 is one way to     change, exchange, commute, convert
    Sample sentence:
    Somebody ----s something
  39. break, break up - destroy the completeness of a set of related items; "The book dealer would not break the set"
    --39 is one way to change, alter, modify
    Sample sentence:
    Somebody ----s something
  40. break - make the opening shot that scatters the balls
    --40 is one way to     shoot
    Derived form: noun break10
    Sample sentence:
    Somebody ----s
  41. break - separate from a clinch, in boxing; "The referee broke the boxers"
    --41 is one way to     separate, disunite, divide, part
    Sample sentence:
    Somebody ----s somebody
  42. break, wear, wear out, bust, fall apart - go to pieces; "The lawn mower finally broke"; "The gears wore out"; "The old chair finally fell apart completely"
    --42 is one way to decay, crumble, delapidate
    Sample sentence:
    Something ----s
  43. break, break off, snap off - break a piece from a whole; "break a branch from a tree"
    --43 is one way to detach
    Derived forms: noun breakage3, noun breaker1
    Sample sentence:
    Somebody ----s something
  44. break - become punctured or penetrated; "The skin broke"
    Sample sentence:
    Something ----s
  45. break - pierce or penetrate; "The blade broke her skin"
    --45 is one way to     penetrate, perforate
    Sample sentence:
    Something ----s something
  46. break, get out, get around - be released or become known; of news; "News of her death broke in the morning"
    Sample sentence:
    Something ----s
  47. pause, intermit, break - cease an action temporarily; "We pause for station identification"; "let's break for lunch"
    --47 is one way to interrupt, disrupt, break up, cut off
    Derived form: noun break5
    Sample sentence:
    Somebody ----s
  48. break - interrupt the flow of current in; "break a circuit"
    --48 is one way to     interrupt, disrupt, break up, cut off
    Derived form: noun breaker3
    Sample sentences:
    Somebody ----s something
    Something ----s something
  49. break - undergo breaking; "The simple vowels broke in many Germanic languages"
    --49 is one way to     diphthongize, diphthongise
    Sample sentence:
    Something ----s
  50. break - find a flaw in; "break an alibi"; "break down a proof"
    --50 is one way to     destroy, ruin
    Sample sentences:
    Somebody ----s something
    Something ----s something
  51. break - find the solution or key to; "break the code"
    --51 is one way to     solve, work out, figure out, puzzle out, lick, work
    Sample sentence:
    Somebody ----s something
  52. break - change suddenly from one tone quality or register to another; "Her voice broke to a whisper when she started to talk about her children"
    --52 is one way to     switch, shift, change
    Sample sentence:
    Something ----s
  53. break, recrudesce, develop - happen; "Report the news as it develops"; "These political movements recrudesce from time to time"
    --53 is one way to happen, hap, go on, pass off, occur, pass, fall out, come about, take place
    Sample sentence:
    Something ----s
  54. crack, check, break - become fractured; break or crack on the surface only; "The glass cracked when it was heated"
    --54 is one way to change
    Derived form: noun break8
    Sample sentence:
    Something ----s
  55. break - of the male voice in puberty; "his voice is breaking--he should no longer sing in the choir"
    --55 is one way to     change state, turn
    Sample sentence:
    Something ----s
  56. break - fall sharply; "stock prices broke"
    --56 is one way to     decrease, diminish, lessen, fall
    Sample sentence:
    The stock market is going to break
  57. fracture, break - fracture a bone of; "I broke my foot while playing hockey"
    --57 is one way to injure, wound
    Derived form: noun break8
    Sample sentence:
    Did he break his foot?
  58. break - diminish or discontinue abruptly; "The patient's fever broke last night"
    --58 is one way to     decrease, diminish, lessen, fall
    Sample sentence:
    Something ----s
  59. break - weaken or destroy in spirit or body; "His resistance was broken"; "a man broken by the terrible experience of near-death"
    --59 is one way to     weaken
    Sample sentence:
    Something ----s somebody
break-a-leg break-axe break-dance break-even break-even price break-in break-ins break-up break break break a rule break apart break away break bread break camp break circulation break dance

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