noun • some abrupt occurrence that interrupts an ongoing activity
• an unexpected piece of good luck
• (geology) a crack in the earth's crust resulting from the displacement of one side with respect to the other
• a personal or social separation (as between opposing factions)
• a pause from doing something (as work)
• the act of breaking something
• a time interval during which there is a temporary cessation of something
• breaking of hard tissue such as bone
• the occurrence of breaking
• an abrupt change in the tone or register of the voice (as at puberty or due to emotion)
• the opening shot that scatters the balls in billiards or pool
• (tennis) a score consisting of winning a game when your opponent was serving
• an act of delaying or interrupting the continuity
• a sudden dash
• any frame in which a bowler fails to make a strike or spare
• an escape from jail
verb • terminate or end
• become separated into pieces or fragments
• render inoperable or ineffective
• ruin completely
• destroy the integrity of; usually by force; cause to separate into pieces or fragments
• act in disregard of laws, rules, contracts, or promises
• move away or escape suddenly
• scatter or part
• force out or release suddenly and often violently something pent up
• prevent completion
• enter someone's (virtual or real) property in an unauthorized manner, usually with the intent to steal or commit a violent act
• make submissive, obedient, or useful
• fail to agree with; be in violation of; as of rules or patterns
• surpass in excellence
• make known to the public information that was previously known only to a few people or that was meant to be kept a secret
• come into being
• stop operating or functioning
• interrupt a continued activity
• make a rupture in the ranks of the enemy or one's own by quitting or fleeing
• curl over and fall apart in surf or foam, of waves
• lessen in force or effect
• be broken in
• come to an end
• vary or interrupt a uniformity or continuity
• cause to give up a habit
• give up
• come forth or begin from a state of latency
• happen or take place
• cause the failure or ruin of
• invalidate by judicial action
• discontinue an association or relation; go different ways
• assign to a lower position; reduce in rank
• reduce to bankruptcy
• change directions suddenly
• emerge from the surface of a body of water
• break down, literally or metaphorically
• do a break dance
• exchange for smaller units of money
• destroy the completeness of a set of related items
• make the opening shot that scatters the balls
• separate from a clinch, in boxing
• go to pieces
• break a piece from a whole
• become punctured or penetrated
• pierce or penetrate
• be released or become known; of news
• cease an action temporarily
• interrupt the flow of current in
• undergo breaking
• find a flaw in
• find the solution or key to
• change suddenly from one tone quality or register to another
• happen
• become fractured; break or crack on the surface only
• crack; of the male voice in puberty
• fall sharply
• fracture a bone of
• diminish or discontinue abruptly
• weaken or destroy in spirit or body