When dawn broke (=the first light of the day appeared), we were still 50 miles from Calcutta.broke1 verbbroke2 adjective
brokebroke1 /brəʊk $ broʊk/ verb 
COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES When dawn broke (=the first light of the day appeared), we were still 50 miles from Calcutta. Fighting broke out in the crowds. The horses broke into a gallop (=begin to go very fast). When the verdict was read pandemonium broke out in the courtroom. He was still following me, and in a panic I broke into a run. Scuffles broke out between rival supporters during the match. She broke into a trot (=started running slowly) and hurried on ahead of us.
When dawn broke (=the first light of the day appeared), we were still 50 miles from Calcutta. Fighting broke out in the crowds. The horses broke into a gallop (=begin to go very fast). When the verdict was read pandemonium broke out in the courtroom. He was still following me, and in a panic I broke into a run. Scuffles broke out between rival supporters during the match. She broke into a trot (=started running slowly) and hurried on ahead of us.PHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES► the man who broke the bank at Monte Carlo
the past tense of break- Debbie told him to shut up, he slapped her, and then all hell broke loose.
- When a fan jumped onto the stage, all hell broke loose.
- A sparrow hawk appeared - and all hell broke loose!
- And then, all hell broke loose.
- But then all hell broke loose, geologically speaking, as increasing numbers of sources for the rock were discovered.
- Journalists woke him up in his bed with the news and, as I suspected, all hell broke loose.
- Not at all bad considering that all hell broke loose in September and the City was rocked by events outside its control.
- She started to strip off, all hell broke loose and he bolted while plain-clothes officers moved in to stage a cover-up.
- What actually happened was that I was as drunk as anybody in the barracks the night all hell broke loose.
- When the story was leaked to the press, all hell broke loose.
broke1 verbbroke2 adjective
brokebroke2 adjective [not before noun] WORD ORIGINbroke2
Origin:
1700-1800 An old past participle of breakEXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- "Can you lend me some money?" "Sorry, I'm broke."
- He turned up at my house yesterday, flat broke and hungry.
- I can't go - I'm broke.
- Lawrence was so broke he had to wear the same suit to work every day.
- She just come back off holiday and she's completely broke.
- We're always broke at the end of the month.
- Bethlehem went broke a year later, but a reissue set appeared 20 years later.
- If you removed the future earnings, Baker told jurors, O. J. Simpson is flat broke.
- Naturally I am broke, or almost.
- Tilden died broke, and shunned by many because of his conviction for homosexuality with underage partners.
- Who spends his portion will be broke.
Longman Language Activatorhaving no money to spend at the present time
informal having no money or very little money to spend at the moment: · "Can you lend me some money?" "Sorry, I'm broke."· She's just come back off holiday and she's completely broke.
British informal having no money at the moment: · I sold my record collection when I was skint one time.· Can you lend me some money to tide me over? I'm a bit skint at the moment.
not having enough money at the moment: · I'm warning you, we're really strapped for cash right now.· I'm a bit strapped for cash myself at the moment, but I'll see what I can do.
having very little money at the present time informal having little money at the present time and being unable to buy the things that you need: · I'm a little hard up just now -- can I pay you back next week?· She was so hard up that she couldn't afford to heat her apartment.
informal having no money at the moment: · We're always broke at the end of the month.· Lawrence was so broke he had to wear the same suit to work every day.flat broke (=completely broke): · He turned up at my house yesterday, flat broke and hungry.
British spoken having no money at all: · I'm really skint -- you couldn't lend me a few quid could you?· At that time I was skint, and I would have taken any job I could get.
informal to have had bad luck over a long period of time so that you now have very little money: · We bought the necklace from an old man who was down on his luck and in need of a penny or two.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY When dawn broke (=the first light of the day appeared), we were still 50 miles from Calcutta. Fighting broke out in the crowds. The horses broke into a gallop (=begin to go very fast). When the verdict was read pandemonium broke out in the courtroom. He was still following me, and in a panic I broke into a run. Scuffles broke out between rival supporters during the match. She broke into a trot (=started running slowly) and hurried on ahead of us.
(=completely broke)
COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES When dawn broke (=the first light of the day appeared), we were still 50 miles from Calcutta. Fighting broke out in the crowds. The horses broke into a gallop (=begin to go very fast). When the verdict was read pandemonium broke out in the courtroom. He was still following me, and in a panic I broke into a run. Scuffles broke out between rival supporters during the match. She broke into a trot (=started running slowly) and hurried on ahead of us.PHRASES FROM THE ENTRY► if it ain't broke, don't fix itPHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES► the man who broke the bank at Monte Carlo
1having no money: - A lot of small businesses went broke during the recession.
- And once you have so many farmers going broke, the ripple effect starts.
- Bethlehem went broke a year later, but a reissue set appeared 20 years later.
- He could also go broke - last year, farm incomes fell by 25 percent.
- Mr Menem applied such nonsense in the state of La Rioja, where he is governor; it has gone broke.
- Ninety-nine out of a hundred wildcatters went broke or crazy or both and abandoned their last asteroid with the equipment in situ.
- Project the numbers forward and government simply goes broke.
- They are delightful students, but we take them because we'd go broke if we didn't.
- Two retiring Republican senators warned their fellow lawmakers Tuesday that they need to fix the Social Security system before it goes broke.
- Jacobsen went for broke on the last nine holes and won the tournament.
- In games, I usually go for broke. 12.
- So he felt free to go for broke.
- So, Major may be going for broke by breaking with precedent.
- This is not a show you can skimp on, and thankfully director Damian Cruden goes for broke.
- Debbie told him to shut up, he slapped her, and then all hell broke loose.
- When a fan jumped onto the stage, all hell broke loose.
- A sparrow hawk appeared - and all hell broke loose!
- And then, all hell broke loose.
- But then all hell broke loose, geologically speaking, as increasing numbers of sources for the rock were discovered.
- Journalists woke him up in his bed with the news and, as I suspected, all hell broke loose.
- Not at all bad considering that all hell broke loose in September and the City was rocked by events outside its control.
- She started to strip off, all hell broke loose and he bolted while plain-clothes officers moved in to stage a cover-up.
- What actually happened was that I was as drunk as anybody in the barracks the night all hell broke loose.
- When the story was leaked to the press, all hell broke loose.
I’m fed up with being broke all the time.flat/stony broke (=completely broke)2go broke if a company or business goes broke, it can no longer operate because it has no money: A lot of small businesses went broke in the recession.3go for broke informal to take big risks when you try to achieve something: At 2–0 down with ten minutes left, you have to go for broke.4if it ain't broke, don't fix it informal used to say that you should not try to improve a system, situation etc that is satisfactory