to break

to separate or become separated into two or more pieces

to damage or become damaged so as to be inoperative

to crack or become cracked without separating

to burst or cut the surface of (skin, etc)

to discontinue or become discontinued

to disperse or become dispersed

to fail to observe (an agreement, promise, law, etc)

to discontinue an association (with)

to disclose or be disclosed

to fracture (a bone) in (a limb, etc)

to divide (something complete or perfect)

to bring or come to an end

to bring to an end by or as if by force

to escape (from)

to weaken or overwhelm or be weakened or overwhelmed, as in spirit

to cut through or penetrate

to improve on or surpass

to accustom (a horse) to the bridle and saddle, to being ridden, etc

to cause (a person) to give up (a habit)

to weaken the impact or force of

to decipher

to lose the order of

to reduce to poverty or the state of bankruptcy

to obtain, give, or receive smaller units in exchange for; change

to demote to a lower rank

to proceed suddenly

to come into being

to open with explosives

(esp of fish) to appear above the surface of the water

(of the amniotic fluid surrounding an unborn baby) to be released when the amniotic sac ruptures in the first stage of labour

to turn out in a specified manner

(of prices, esp stock exchange quotations) to fall sharply

to make a sudden effort, as in running, horse racing, etc

(of a ball) to change direction on bouncing

(of a player) to knock down at least one bail from (a wicket)

to scatter the balls at the start of a game

to commence running in a race

(of two fighters) to separate from a clinch

(of a vowel) to turn into a diphthong, esp as a development in the language

to open the breech of (certain firearms) by snapping the barrel away from the butt on its hinge

to interrupt the flow of current in (an electrical circuit)

to become successful; make a breakthrough

the act or result of breaking; fracture

a crack formed as the result of breaking

a brief respite or interval between two actions

a sudden rush, esp to escape

a breach in a relationship

any sudden interruption in a continuous action

a short period between classes at school

a fortunate opportunity, esp to prove oneself

a piece of (good or bad) luck

(esp in a stock exchange) a sudden and substantial decline in prices

a pause in a line of verse; caesura

the act or instance of breaking an opponent's service

one of the intervals in a sporting contest

the start of a race

(in tenpin bowling) failure to knock down all the pins after the second attempt

a discontinuity in an electrical circuit

access to a radio channel by a citizens' band operator

a command by a referee for two opponents to separate