breakthrough

Meanings

1. 1
   adj

   Characterized by major progress or overcoming some obstacle.

   a breakthrough technological advance

2. 2
   adj

   Involving the contraction of a disease by a person with a decreased susceptibility, such as a person who has been vaccinated to help prevent that disease.

   Breakthrough infections (urine infections that develop in children on antibiotics) can occasionally occur, and if they do, different preventative antibiotics can be given or sometimes surgery to fix the leaky valve can be undertaken.

3. 3
   noun

   Any major progress; such as a great innovation or discovery that overcomes a significant obstacle.

   Albert Einstein is credited with making some of the greatest breakthroughs in modern physics.

4. 4
   noun

   The penetration of the opposition's defence.

   But with the lively Dos Santos pulling the strings behind strikers Pavlyuchenko and Defoe, Spurs controlled the first half without finding the breakthrough their dominance deserved.

5. 5
   noun

   The emergence or one or more symptoms of a condition despite medication or other medical treatment.

   She was on two antiepileptics for five years but then had a breakthrough seizure.

6. 6
   noun

   making an important discovery

7. 7
   noun

   a penetration of a barrier such as an enemy's defense

8. 8
   noun

   a productive insight

Etymology

From break + through. Compare German Durchbruch and Dutch doorbraak (“breakthrough”, literally “through-break”).