break

Also found in: Dictionary, Thesaurus, Medical, Financial, Acronyms, Idioms, Encyclopedia, Wikipedia.

break

(Fracture), verb burst, cave in, comminute, cut, destroy, fissure, fragment, hew, interpenetrate, interrumpere, penetrate, pierce, pulverize, puncture, rend, scatter, shatter, shiver, smash, splinter, stave in
Associated concepts: breakage, breaking a close, breaking and entering, burglary, forcible entry and detainer

break

(Separate), verb cleave, crack, detach, disband, disconnect, disengage, disentangle, disintegrate, disjoin, dismantle, dispart, disperse, dissociate, disunite, force apart, force open, get free, get loose, incise, lop, open, part, rive, sever, split, split off, subdivide, sunder, take apart, take to pieces, unbind, unchain, unclinch, unfetter, unknot, unloose, untie
Associated concepts: break in occupancy, break in the chain of events

break

(Violate), verb abscind, be derelict, be guilty of infraction, breach, defy, disobey, disregard, infringe, invade, neglect, trample upon, transgress, trespass

References in classic literature ?

Break up for me, O my brethren, break up also that NEW table

O my brethren, when I enjoined you to break up the good, and the tables of the good, then only did I embark man on his high seas.

View in context

Now if any one wants to break in a young horse well, that is the way.

View in context

Then Jove the lord of thunder sent the blast of a mighty wind from the mountains of Ida, that bore the dust down towards the ships; he thus lulled the Achaeans into security, and gave victory to Hector and to the Trojans, who, trusting to their own might and to the signs he had shown them, essayed to break through the great wall of the Achaeans.

Before him he held his shield of hammered bronze, that the smith had beaten so fair and round, and had lined with ox hides which he had made fast with rivets of gold all round the shield; this he held in front of him, and brandishing his two spears came on like some lion of the wilderness, who has been long famished for want of meat and will dare break even into a well-fenced homestead to try and get at the sheep.

For all the gates had been closed, and the Trojans were hammering at them to try and break their way through them.

View in context

There are conditions under which an effort to break it may have some chance -- that is, some small, some trifling chance -- of success.

Ye wit that he that would break this spell must know that spirit's name?

View in context

The rest of the round, the three long minutes of it, was a succession of clinches and breaks.

View in context

The landlady having given her directions for the new guest's entertainment to her husband, who acted as cook to the Break of Day, had resumed her needlework behind her counter.

Even the two players at dominoes glanced up from their game, as if to protest against philosophical philanthropy being brought by name into the Break of Day.

View in context

Who could have prophesied in what way any of these inspired law-breakers would break the law, what new type of perfect imperfection they would create?

View in context

Legal browser ?

Full browser ?

CITE

Site: Follow: Share:

Open / Close