break

Meanings

1. 1
   verb

   To separate something into pieces, or to make it stop working, often suddenly.

   He dropped the glass and it broke on the floor.

2. 2
   verb

   To fail to obey a law, rule, or promise.

   You broke the rules, so you must face the consequences.

3. 3
   noun

   A short rest or pause from an activity.

   Let's take a short break and have some coffee.

4. 4
   verb

   To stop a habit.

   She finally broke her habit of biting her nails.

Common collocations

• break a record Verb + noun
• break a window Verb + noun
• break one's neck Verb + noun
• break the law Verb + noun
• break ground Verb + noun

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…

Topics