break
(tennis) a score consisting of winning a game when your opponent was serving.
“he was up two breaks in the second set”
Any frame in which a bowler fails to make a strike or spare.
“the break in the eighth frame cost him the match”
Breaking of hard tissue such as bone.
“the break seems to have been caused by a fall”
The act of breaking something.
“the breakage was unavoidable”
A pause from doing something (as work).
“we took a 10-minute break”
(geology) a crack in the earth's crust resulting from the displacement of one side with respect to the other.
A time interval during which there is a temporary cessation of something.
A personal or social separation (as between opposing factions).
“they hoped to avoid a break in relations”
Force out or release suddenly and often violently something pent up.
“break into tears”
Go to pieces.
Ruin completely.
Act in disregard of laws, rules, contracts, or promises.
“break a law”
“break a promise”
Become fractured; break or crack on the surface only.
Do a break dance.
“Kids were break-dancing at the street corner”
Prevent completion.
“break off the negotiations”
Become separated into pieces or fragments.
Make known to the public information that was previously known only to a few people or that was meant to be kept a secret.
Terminate.
“break a lucky streak”
“break the cycle of poverty”
Surpass in excellence.
“break a record”
Discontinue an association or relation; go different ways.
Happen.
Break down, literally or metaphorically.
Stop operating or functioning.
Fracture a bone of.
Reduce to bankruptcy.
“My daughter's fancy wedding is going to break me!”
Enter someone's (virtual or real) property in an unauthorized manner, usually with the intent to steal or commit a violent act.
Assign to a lower position; reduce in rank.
Break a piece from a whole.
“break a branch from a tree”
Make submissive, obedient, or useful.
“The horse was tough to break”
Move away or escape suddenly.
“Nobody can break out--this prison is high security”