ALL meanings of break
break
B b - verb break If you break a secret code, you work out how to understand it. 3
- verb break If someone's voice breaks when they are speaking, it changes its sound, for example because they are sad or afraid. 3
- verb break When a boy's voice breaks, it becomes deeper and sounds more like a man's voice. 3
- verb break If the weather breaks or a storm breaks, it suddenly becomes rainy or stormy after a period of sunshine. 3
- verb break In tennis, if you break your opponent's serve, you win a game in which your opponent is serving. 3
- verb break to separate or become separated into two or more pieces 3
- verb break to damage or become damaged so as to be inoperative 3
- verb break to crack or become cracked without separating 3
- verb break to burst or cut the surface of (skin, etc) 3
- verb break to discontinue or become discontinued 3
- verb break to disperse or become dispersed 3
- verb break to fail to observe (an agreement, promise, law, etc) 3
- verb break to discontinue an association (with) 3
- verb break to disclose or be disclosed 3
- verb break to fracture (a bone) in (a limb, etc) 3
- verb break to divide (something complete or perfect) 3
- verb break to bring or come to an end 3
- verb break to bring to an end by or as if by force 3
- verb break to escape (from) 3
- verb break to weaken or overwhelm or be weakened or overwhelmed, as in spirit 3
- verb break to cut through or penetrate 3
- verb break to improve on or surpass 3
- verb break to accustom (a horse) to the bridle and saddle, to being ridden, etc 3
- verb break to cause (a person) to give up (a habit) 3
- verb break to weaken the impact or force of 3
- verb break to decipher 3
- verb break to lose the order of 3
- verb break to reduce to poverty or the state of bankruptcy 3
- verb break to obtain, give, or receive smaller units in exchange for; change 3
- verb break to demote to a lower rank 3
- verb break to proceed suddenly 3
- verb break to come into being 3
- verb break to burst into song, laughter, etc 3
- verb break to change to a faster pace 3
- verb break to open with explosives 3
- verb break to strike violently 3
- verb break to collapse into foam or surf 3
- verb break (esp of fish) to appear above the surface of the water 3
- verb break (of the amniotic fluid surrounding an unborn baby) to be released when the amniotic sac ruptures in the first stage of labour 3
- verb break to turn out in a specified manner 3
- verb break (of prices, esp stock exchange quotations) to fall sharply 3
- verb break to make a sudden effort, as in running, horse racing, etc 3
- verb break (of a ball) to change direction on bouncing 3
- verb break (of a player) to knock down at least one bail from (a wicket) 3
- verb break to scatter the balls at the start of a game 3
- verb break to commence running in a race 3
- verb break (of two fighters) to separate from a clinch 3
- verb break (of the male voice) to undergo a change in register, quality, and range at puberty 3
- verb break (of the voice or some instruments) to undergo a change in tone, quality, etc, when changing registers 3
- verb break (of a vowel) to turn into a diphthong, esp as a development in the language 3