breakˈdancer noun

breakˈdancing noun

breakˈdown noun

1. A stoppage through accident
2. Collapse
3. A nervous breakdown
4. Disintegration
5. A vigorous and noisy American dance
6. The sudden passage of current through an insulating material at a particular voltage (elec eng)
7. An analysis, investigation of data under different headings

adjective

Assisting after a breakdown, etc, eg breakdown truck or breakdown gang a vehicle or gang that clears and tows away a vehicle after a breakdown or wreckage after an accident

breakdown voltage noun (elec eng)

The potential difference at which breakdown (qv above) occurs

break-even see break even below.

break fee noun (finance)

A payment made by one party in a financial agreement to another in order to escape from the terms of the agreement

breakˈ-front noun and adjective

(a bookcase, wardrobe, etc) having a centre section projecting beyond the two end sections

breakˈ-in noun

An illegal (and sometimes violent) entering of a building

breaking point noun

The point at which a person, relationship, situation, etc breaks down under stress

breaking stress noun (engineering)

The stress necessary to break a material, either in tension or compression

breakˈ-jaw adjective

Very difficult to pronounce accurately

breakˈneck adjective

Headlong, very fast, usu dangerously so

break of day noun

Dawn

breakˈoff noun

A discontinuation, abrupt cessation

breakout see break out below.

break point noun

1. A point giving a player the opportunity to break service (tennis)
2. (also breakˈpoint) a point at which a computer program will stop running to allow checking, etc

breakˈ-promise or breakˈ-vow noun (both Shakespeare)

A person who habitually breaks promises or vows

breakˈthrough noun

1. A forcible passage through a barrier
2. The solving of a problem, esp scientific, after much effort, opening the way to further developments
3. Any comparable success

breakthrough bleeding noun

Intermittent discharge of blood from the uterus between menstrual periods

breakˈtime noun

(at school, etc) recess, break between work periods

breakˈ-up noun

1. Dissolution
2. Dispersal
3. An ending of a relationship

break-vow see break-promise above.

breakˈwater noun

A barrier against the force of the waves

breakˈ-wind noun

A windbreak

break a jest

To make a jest, crack a joke

break a lance with

To enter into a contest with

break a leg (theatre)

A phrase used to wish someone good luck

break a record see under record

break a strike see under strike

break away

1. To make a breakaway
2. To be scattered, as clouds after a storm

break bread

1. To have a meal (with)
2. To administer or take part in Holy Communion (Christianity)

break bulk

1. To open the hold and take out a portion of the cargo
2. To begin to use goods supplied in bulk

break camp

To dismantle and pack one's tents, etc

break cover

1. (of eg a fox) to burst out from concealment
2. To come out of hiding

break down

1. To demolish
2. To crush
3. To collapse
4. To be overwhelmed by one's emotions
5. To suffer a nervous breakdown
6. To fail completely
7. To analyse

break even

1. To avoid making a loss but fail to make a profit
2. To reach the point at which revenue equals costs (breakˈeven noun and adjective)

break forth

To burst out, issue

break free see break loose below.

break ground see under ground¹

break in

1. (also break) to tame or accustom (an animal) to obedience
2. To make (shoes, etc) less stiff by use

break in, in on or into

1. To enter violently
2. To interpose abruptly

breaking and entering

Housebreaking, illegal entry into property

break into

1. To begin to use up or spend (something held in reserve, a large denomination note, etc)
2. To begin an activity suddenly, eg song, laughter

break it down (Aust inf)

Stop it!

break loose or free

1. To extricate oneself forcibly
2. To break through all restraint

break no squares

To make no difference, do no harm, matter little

break off

1. To detach by breaking
2. To put an abrupt end to
3. To leave off or stop abruptly

break one's mind (obsolete)

To communicate one's thoughts to someone

break out

1. To appear suddenly
2. To break through all restraint
3. To escape (breakˈout noun)
4. To become active suddenly
5. To become covered with (a rash, etc; with in)

break service or break someone's serve (tennis, etc)

To win a game in which one's opponent is serving

break sheer

(of a ship riding at anchor) to be forced by wind or tide out of a position clear of the anchor

break someone's heart

To crush someone emotionally, esp by failing them in love

break the balls (or simply break)

1. To open the game by striking one of the red balls (snooker)
2. To open the game by striking the red ball or giving a miss, or to continue the game this way when a similar position occurs (billiards)

break the ice (figurative)

To get through first difficulties, esp restraint on first meeting

break through

To make a breakthrough

break up

1. To break open
2. To break in pieces
3. To go to pieces
4. To put an end to
5. To disperse, to part
6. To end a relationship
7. (of a school) to close for the holidays
8. To dig or plough up
9. To disconcert or upset (informal)
10. To make helpless with laughter (informal)

break upon the wheel (historical)

To punish by stretching on a wheel and breaking the bones

break wind

To let out flatulence from the bowels

break with

1. To cease relations with, esp to quarrel with
2. To cease adherence to (tradition, a habit)

make a break for

To bolt towards