break

Meanings

1. 1
   verb

   to act in disregard of laws, rules, contracts, or promises

   You broke the rules, so we'll have to think about whether or not we will permit you here in the future.

2. 2
   verb

   to enter someone's virtual or real property in an unauthorized manner, usually with the intent to steal or commit a violent act

   They broke into our house!

3. 3
   verb

   to happen or take place

   Things have been breaking pretty well for us in the past few months.

4. 4
   verb

   to fail to agree with

   I think this is the first time running this business together that we've had a break.

5. 5
   verb

   to give up

   I tried to break cigarette smoking for my new partner.

6. 6
   verb

   to cause to give up a habit

   I broke my smoking habits two years ago.

7. 7
   verb

   to vary or interrupt a uniformity or continuity

   There was a break in the storm.

8. 8
   noun

   an escape from jail

   the breakout was carefully planned

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *bʰreg-der. Proto-Germanic *brekaną Proto-West Germanic *brekan Old English brecan Middle English breken English break 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. Cognates Cognates of Germanic origin include Scots brek (“to break”), West Frisian brekke (“to break”), Dutch breken (“to break”), Low German breken (“to break”), German brechen (“to break”), French broyer (“to crush, grind”), Gothic 𐌱𐍂𐌹𐌺𐌰…