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break

break

103 1.0
A sudden crack in a hard thing such as a bone
  • noun
  • /breɪk/
: rotura
  • After the accident, the doctor confirmed that he had a break in his arm that would require surgery.
  • a pipe break
  • break in the skin
  • a levee break

Examples

  • The docs tell me I miraculously escaped any major injuries, just a small break to my tailbone and a tiny, tiny fracture in my skull.

  • It's a clean break right across the fibula.

  • Maybe we should take a break.

  • I want a clean break.

  • The students are still away for the winter break, and most of the doors are locked.

    Fiction book (1994)
  • The car dipped at the edge of a washed-out break in the road.

    Fiction book (1997)
  • The news reported a significant break in the water main, causing flooding in several neighborhoods.

  • The athlete suffered a break in his leg during the game, which will keep him out for several months.

Synonyms

fracture
vsbreak
226 4.1

A break in something hard like a bone or rock

covers any act of causing separation not only in hard materials
split
vsbreak
14 1.1

A break in something, for example a tear in fabric or wood

focuses on sudden or forceful separation rather than a controlled division

Antonyms

∞ 1.0

To repair something so it works again

371 2.3

Work done to fix something that is broken

Idioms

give me a break
  • Informal
100 7.9

Ask someone to stop criticizing or asking too much of you

to make or break
  • Informal
44 4.5

Decide whether something is a complete success or failure

to break a sweat
  • Informal
24 4.1

To start sweating from hard work or to need to try hard

to break a leg
  • Informal
16 6.3

To wish someone good luck before a performance

To do something in a new way instead of the usual way

To cost a lot of money

To make a sound or speak after a time of silence

3 7.9

A sudden time when many people lose control and chaos starts

3 5.4

Cause a huge rise in online attention and internet traffic

To overcome barriers that stop women or minority groups getting higher jobs

To stop poverty passing from parents to children

1 8.7

To tease or nag someone in a way that annoys them

to break the buck
  • Literature
1 9.8

A money market fund's share price falls below one dollar

6.0

To work very hard at something until you are very tired

Have a first success after trying and failing

9.9

To fight strongly for a good cause in a brave, fair way

To do new or difficult things on purpose to learn and grow

A phrase that says hurt to the body is worse than insults and words do not hurt

To look at the sky as the sun comes up

Compounds

113 3.9

An illegal entry into a building to steal or damage things

105 2.0

A short vacation from school in spring, usually one week

tax break
  • Specialized
99 3.0

A smaller tax people or companies must pay to encourage certain activities

big break
  • Informal
51 3.2

An important chance that helps a person become successful in their career

tough break
  • Informal
23 5.8

An unlucky event that makes things harder for someone

22 1.0

A short break from work to drink coffee or eat a small snack

lucky break
  • Informal
18 3.2

A sudden chance that helps you succeed

16 1.2

A short pause to use the toilet

clean break
  • Informal
15 3.9

A complete ending of a relationship or old life to start fresh

13 1.0

A holiday when schools and universities close for winter

fast break
  • Jargon
10 3.5

A quick attack where a team moves fast down the court to score before the defense sets up

break seal
  • Specialized
8 6.1

A seal that breaks when a package is opened to show if someone opened it

A solo street dance with fast acrobatic moves on the ground to hip-hop music

6 1.0

The first light of morning when the sun rises

3 3.6

A solo street dance with quick acrobatic moves often done to hip-hop music

2 1.3

A short informal break at work to drink tea or another drink

1 3.9

A short pause in an activity

The first light of morning when the sun begins to appear

1 4.3

An ending of a relationship or agreement, often sudden

1 4.5

Illegal access to a computer system to steal or damage data

service break
  • Jargon
1 5.1

A game the player who is not serving wins in tennis

bio-break
  • Informal
1 8.6

A short break to use the toilet or take care of personal needs

A short pause from work to move, stretch, or rest

1 4.1

A piece that has come away from a larger object, often suddenly

1 5.1

A game one player wins while the opponent is serving

1 3.7

A short pause to use the toilet or have a brief rest

9.9

A tree from the West Indies with very hard wood used for building

How Severe

comminuted fracture
  • Specialized
1 8.1
compound fracture
  • Specialized
8 6.0
break
103 1.0
simple fracture
  • Specialized
1 3.5

Surface Forms

break singular
breaks plural

Etymology

Break comes from an old English word brecan meaning 'to crack' or 'split'. A 'break' in something is the act of it splitting or fracturing, like a broken bone.