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break

break
B b

Transcription

    • US Pronunciation
    • US IPA
    • UK Pronunciation
    • UK IPA
    • [breyk]
    • /breɪk/
    • /breɪk/
    • US Pronunciation
    • US IPA
    • [breyk]
    • /breɪk/

Definitions of break word

  • verb break When an object breaks or when you break it, it suddenly separates into two or more pieces, often because it has been hit or dropped. 3
  • verb break If you break a part of your body such as your leg, your arm, or your nose, or if a bone breaks, you are injured because a bone cracks or splits. 3
  • verb break Break is also a noun. 3
  • verb break If a surface, cover, or seal breaks or if something breaks it, a hole or tear is made in it, so that a substance can pass through. 3
  • verb break When a tool or piece of machinery breaks or when you break it, it is damaged and no longer works. 3
  • verb break If you break a rule, promise, or agreement, you do something that you should not do according to that rule, promise, or agreement. 3

Information block about the term

Origin of break

First appearance:

before 900
One of the 4% oldest English words
before 900; Middle English breken, Old English brecan; cognate with Dutch breken, German brechen, Gothic brikan; akin to Latin frangere; see fragile

Historical Comparancy

Parts of speech for Break

noun
adjective
verb
adverb
pronoun
preposition
conjunction
determiner
exclamation

break popularity

A common word. It’s meaning is known to most children of preschool age. About 97% of English native speakers know the meaning and use the word.
Most Europeans know this English word. The frequency of it’s usage is somewhere between "mom" and "screwdriver".

break usage trend in Literature

This diagram is provided by Google Ngram Viewer

Synonyms for break

noun break

  • hole — an opening through something; gap; aperture: a hole in the roof; a hole in my sock.
  • crack — If something hard cracks, or if you crack it, it becomes slightly damaged, with lines appearing on its surface.
  • gap — a department in SE France. 2179 sq. mi. (5645 sq. km). Capital: Gap.
  • rift — an opening made by splitting, cleaving, etc.; fissure; cleft; chink.
  • division — the act or process of dividing; state of being divided.

verb break

  • smash — to break to pieces with violence and often with a crashing sound, as by striking, letting fall, or dashing against something; shatter: He smashed the vase against the wall.
  • crash — A crash is an accident in which a moving vehicle hits something and is damaged or destroyed.
  • burst — If something bursts or if you burst it, it suddenly breaks open or splits open and the air or other substance inside it comes out.
  • separate — to keep apart or divide, as by an intervening barrier or space: to separate two fields by a fence.
  • shatter — to break (something) into pieces, as by a blow.

Antonyms for break

noun break

  • closing — The closing part of an activity or period of time is the final part of it.
  • juncture — a point of time, especially one made critical or important by a concurrence of circumstances: At this juncture, we must decide whether to stay or to walk out.
  • binding — A binding promise, agreement, or decision must be obeyed or carried out.
  • fastening — something that fastens, as a lock or clasp.
  • continuation — The continuation of something is the fact that it continues, rather than stopping.

verb break

  • mend — to make (something broken, worn, torn, or otherwise damaged) whole, sound, or usable by repairing: to mend old clothes; to mend a broken toy.
  • combine — If you combine two or more things or if they combine, they exist together.
  • unite — to join, combine, or incorporate so as to form a single whole or unit.
  • connect — If something or someone connects one thing to another, or if one thing connects to another, the two things are joined together.
  • aid — Aid is money, equipment, or services that are provided for people, countries, or organizations who need them but cannot provide them for themselves.

Top questions with break

  • when is spring break?
  • when i s spring break?
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  • how to break up with someone?
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  • how to break up?
  • how to break up with someone you love?
  • how to break up with your boyfriend?
  • how to break up with a girl?
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  • how to break your ankle?
  • how to break your arm?

See also

Matching words

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