Definition of brak
1. break [ v ] terminate
Examples:
"She interrupted her pregnancy"
"break a lucky streak"
"break the cycle of poverty"
(The Sun, [Baltimore],...)
If the Orioles are to break their losing_streak within the next two days , it will have to be at_the_expense_of the American_League champion New_York Yankees , who come in here tomorrow for a night_game and a single test Sunday afternoon .
(Schubert Ogden, Christ Without Myth....)
In affirming this we have already taken the decisive step in breaking the deadlock into which Bultmann 's attempt to formulate such a theology has led .
(E. Gellhorn, "Prolegomena to a theory of the emotions"...)
This tendency can be broken either by restoring hypothalamic excitability directly or via cortico-hypothalamic pathways .
(E. Lucas Myers, "The Vindication of Dr. Nestor,"...)
The dawn progressed and it seemed that the doctor would never be done_with his ministrations when quite abruptly something broke his revery .
(Octavia Waldo, A Cup of the Sun....)
To them he could have been the broken bell in the church_tower which rang before and after Mass , and at noon , and at six each evening - its tone , repetitive , monotonous , never breaking the boredom of the streets .
Synonyms break interrupt Related Terms end end cut_short freeze2. break [ v ] become separated into pieces or fragments
Examples:
"The figurine broke"
"The freshly baked loaf fell apart"
(The Dallas Morning News,...)
He broke that boy ( Air_Force fullback Nick_Arshinkoff ) in two and knocked him loose from the football '' .
(The Providence Journal...)
The company which performed the Pulitzer_Prize musical here last night and will repeat it twice today is full of bounce , the politicians are in fine voice , the chorines evoke happy memories , and the Little_Flower rides to break a lance again .
(Clifford H. Pope, The Giant Snakes....)
The argument against this last approach is comparable_to that which rejects stories about hoop_snakes , about snakes that break themselves into many pieces and join up again , or even of ghosts that chase people out of graveyards ; the mere piling_up of testimony does not prove , to the scientific mind , the existence of hoop_snakes , joint_snakes , or ghosts .
Synonyms break separate fall_apart come_apart split_up Related Terms change_integrity burst snap smash puncture burst break_up crush ladder decompose fault3. break [ v ] render inoperable or ineffective
Examples:
"You broke the alarm clock when you took it apart!"
(The Dallas Morning News,...)
End Gene_Raesz , who broke a hand in the Owl 's game with LSU , was back working_out with Rice_Monday , and John_Nichols , sophomore guard , moved_back into action after a week 's idleness with an ankle injury .
(LeRoy Fothergill, "Biological Warfare", in Peter...)
It must be remembered , however , that there are many agents for which there is no solid immunity and a partial or low-grade immunity may be broken by an appropriate dose of agent .
(Jim Berry Pearson, The Maxwell Land Grant....)
Not a bullet touched Cook who was nearer the ambush , but one hit Russell in the leg and another broke his arm , passing_on through his body .
Synonyms break Related Terms damage fail breakage4. break [ v ] destroy the integrity of; usually by force; cause to separate into pieces or fragments
Examples:
"He broke the glass plate"
"She broke the match"
(John Harnsberger and Robert P. Wilkins,...)
Within a_few years the Scots , engaged in breaking the thick sod and stirring the rich soil of the valley , were joined by a group called Meurons .
(James Bryant Conant, Slums and Suburbs...)
Hardly_a window has been broken since Dunbar first was opened ( and vandalism in schools is a major problem in many slum_areas ) .
(Helen Hooven Santmyer, "There Were Fences"...)
Squatting on our haunches beside the flat stone we broke them on , we were safe behind the high closed gates at the end of the drive : safe from interruption and the observation and possible amusement of the passers-by .
(Ralph B. Long. The Sentence and Its Parts: A...)
is Bill 's broken a chair , dominant stress will usually be on the complement a chair .
From the point_of_view of syntactic analysis the head word in the statement is the predicator has broken , and from the point_of_view of meaning it would seem that the trouble centers in the breaking ; but dominant stress will be assigned to broken only in rather exceptional versions of the sentence .
Synonyms break Related Terms separate smash fracture break_in shatter5. break [ v ] ruin completely
Examples:
"He busted my radio!"
(Jim Berry Pearson, The Maxwell Land Grant....)
When they were refused entrance to his brother 's house nearby , they smashed down the door , broke the window , and threw lighted clothes wet with kerosene into the room .
Synonyms break bust Related Terms repair destroy break_down bust_up sever analyze disassemble disassemble chip breakage buster6. break [ v ] act in disregard of laws and rules
Examples:
"offend all laws of humanity"
"violate the basic laws or human civilization"
"break a law"
(Glayds H. Barr, The Master of Geneva....)
Before them stalked the beadle , proclaiming as he went , `` Thus the Council deals with those who break its laws - adulterers , thieves , murderers , and lewd persons .
Synonyms violate break transgress breach go_against infract offend Related Terms disrespect sin trespass sin conflict trespass misdemeanor breach wrongdoer evildoing7. break [ v ] scatter or part
Examples:
"The clouds broke after the heavy downpour"
(Howard Fast, April Morning....)
While this was being discussed , we saw the militia to the west of us fanning_out and breaking into little clusters of two and three men as they approached the road .
That settled it , and we broke into parties of two and three .
Synonyms break Related Terms disperse8. break [ v ] force out or release suddenly and often violently something pent up
Examples:
"break into tears"
"erupt in anger"
(Chester G. Starr, The Origins of Greek Civili...)
Greek civilization was swirling toward its great revolution , in which the developed qualities of the Hellenic outlook were suddenly to break forth .
Synonyms burst break erupt Related Terms express_emotion9. break [ v ] prevent completion
Examples:
"stop the project"
"break the silence"
(Dan McLachlan, Jr., "Communication Networks and...)
For the occasion on which everyone already knows everyone else and the host wishes them to meet one or a_few honored newcomers , then the `` open_house '' system is advantageous because the honored guests are fixed connective points and the drifting guests make and break connections at the door .
Synonyms break stop break_off discontinue Related Terms end end interrupt leave_off bog_down fracture stop10. break [ v ] move away or escape suddenly
Examples:
"The horses broke from the stable"
"Three inmates broke jail"
"Nobody can break out--this prison is high security"
(Bell I. Wiley, "Home Letters of Johnny Reb and Billy...)
We got to one house where there were five secessionist they brok + run and Arch holored_out to shoot the ornery suns_of_biches and we all let_go at them .
Synonyms break break_away break_out Related Terms escape11. break [ v ] make submissive, obedient, or useful, as of wild animals or new items
Examples: : "The horse was tough to break"
used metaphorically for people
(The Atlanta Constitution...)
If we break the minister to our bit , we are buying back our own sins .
If he won n't break , we add to the stress he bears .
(Clifford Irving, The Valley....)
It looked as Gavin had first seen it years ago , on those nights when he slept alone by his campfire and waked suddenly to the hoot of an owl or the rustle of a blade of grass in the moon 's wind - a savage land , untenanted and brooding , too strong to be broken by the will of men .
Synonyms break break_in Related Terms tame domesticate12. break [ n ] some abrupt occurrence that interrupts
Examples:
"the telephone is an annoying interruption"
"there was a break in the action when a player was hurt"
(High Fidelity, 11:10...)
There is a break in continuity just before the fourth variation in the `` Forellen '' movement , and I suspect that this is_due to imperfect splicing between sides of the original SPs .
(Nathan Rapport, ""I've Been Here before!"...)
But , in denying any physical reality for this dream , how could the brain possibly compose that realistic , vividly visual continuity uninterrupted by misty fadeout , violent break or sudden substitution ?
(Robert A. Futterman, The Future of Our Cities....)
When all has been said , however , the big branch store remains a major break with history in the development of American retailing .
Synonyms break abrupt_change interruption Related Terms happening eclipse dislocation suspension punctuation13. break [ v ] enter someone's property in an unauthorized manner, usually with the intent to steal or commit a violent act
Examples:
"Someone broke in while I was on vacation"
"They broke into my car and stole my radio!"
(Jim Berry Pearson, The Maxwell Land Grant....)
During the following week , six tons of hay belonging to one rancher were burned ; some buildings , farm tools , two horses , plows , and hay owned by Bonito_Lavato , a friendly interpreter for the company , and Pedro_Chavez ' hay were stolen or destroyed ; and a store was broken into and robbed .
Synonyms break break_in Related Terms trespass housebreaking14. break [ v ] make known to the public information that was previously known only to a few people or that was meant to be kept a secret
Examples:
"The auction house would not disclose the price"
"She won't reveal her age"
"bring out the truth"
"he broke the news to her"
(E. Lucas Myers, "The Vindication of Dr. Nestor,"...)
`` Chickens have short memories '' , the doctor remarked , `` that 's why they are better company than most people I know '' , and he went_on to break some important news to Alex .
Synonyms disclose reveal expose declare discover give_away break let_out divulge let_on impart bring_out Related Terms tell betray confide tattle leak spring blow spring muckrake out reveal blackwash come_out_of_the_closet discovery revelation disclosure exposure conveyance divulgence expose15. break [ v ] surpass in excellence
Examples:
"She bettered her own record"
"break a record"
(The Sun, [Baltimore],...)
The crowd at the twenty-first annual K._of_C._Games , final indoor meet of the season , got a thrill a_few minutes earlier when a slender , bespectacled woman broke the one week old world_record in the half-mile run .
(St. Louis Post-Dispatch,...)
The opinion continues here that with a 162 - game schedule , pitching spread thin through a 10 - team league and a most inviting target in Los_Angeles ' Wrigley_Field_Jr. , Mantle just might break the most glamorous record on the books , Babe_Ruth 's 60 homers of 1927 .
Synonyms break better Related Terms surpass better16. break [ n ] an unexpected piece of good luck
Examples:
"he finally got his big break"
(The Dallas Morning News,...)
The Texans made themselves a comforting break on the opening kickoff when Denver 's Al_Carmichael was jarred loose from the ball when Dave_Grayson , the speedy halfback , hit him and Guard Al_Reynolds claimed it for Dallas .
Synonyms break happy_chance good_luck Related Terms accident17. break [ v ] come into being
Examples:
"light broke over the horizon"
"Voices broke in the air"
18. break [ v ] stop operating or functioning
Examples:
"The engine finally went"
"The car died on the road"
"The bus we travelled in broke down on the way to town"
"The coffee maker broke"
"The engine failed on the way to town"
"her eyesight went after the accident"
(Tristram Coffin, Not to the Swift....)
Where will you break ?
Synonyms fail break_down break die go_bad conk_out give_out go give_way Related Terms change blow_out misfire crash malfunction die failure19. break [ v ] fail to agree with; be in violation of; as of rules or patterns
Examples:
"He violated the agreement to stay away from his ex-wife"
"You are breaking the law!"
(Frank Getlein and Harold C. Gardiner, S.J., Movies,...)
Each scene is shot straight through , as had been the universal custom , from a camera fixed in a single position , but in the outdoor scenes , especially in the capture and destruction of the outlaws , Porter 's camera position breaks , necessarily , with the camera position standard until then , which had been , roughly , that of a spectator in a center orchestra seat at a play .
Synonyms violate break go_against Related Terms conform_to fly_in_the_face_of violation20. break [ n ] the act of breaking something
Examples:
"the breakage was unavoidable"
(James Thurber, "The Future, If Any, of Comedy,"...)
The sentimental pure heart of Galahad is gone with the knightly years , but I still believe_in the heart of the George_Meredith character that was not made of the stuff that breaks '' .
Synonyms break breaking breakage Related Terms change_of_integrity fracture chip smashing rupture21. break [ v ] be broken in
Examples:
"If the new teacher won't break, we'll add some stress"
(The Horseman and Fair World, 84:46...)
After well broken and equipped with 12 oz shoes on behind , bare-footed in_front , she would trot a real storm with the master , Delvin , driving .
Synonyms break Related Terms change break_in22. break [ n ] (geology) a crack in the earth's crust resulting from the displacement of one side with respect to the other
Examples:
"they built it right over a geological fault"
(L. Don Leet and Florence J. Leet, editors, The World of...)
Sometimes this is accompanied by visible shifts of the ground surface ; often the shifts cannot be seen , but they are there ; and everywhere can be found scars of earlier breaks once deeply buried .
Synonyms break geological_fault fracture fault_line shift fault Related Terms crack strike-slip_fault inclined_fault San_Andreas_Fault denali_fault fault_line geology23. break [ v ] curl over and fall apart in surf or foam, of waves
Examples:
"The surf broke"
(Frank Getlein and Harold C. Gardiner, S.J., Movies,...)
a train rushes straight at the audience , or a great wave threatens to break over the seats .
Synonyms break Related Terms collapse surf24. break [ v ] interrupt a continued activity
Examples:
"She had broken with the traditional patterns"
(Dan McLachlan, Jr., "Communication Networks and...)
For the occasion on which everyone already knows everyone else and the host wishes them to meet one or a_few honored newcomers , then the `` open_house '' system is advantageous because the honored guests are fixed connective points and the drifting guests make and break connections at the door .
Synonyms break break_away Related Terms separate25. break [ v ] lessen in force or effect
Examples:
"soften a shock"
"break a fall"
(Richard Ferber, Bitter Valley....)
She came_down against him , and he tried to break her fall .
Synonyms break soften weaken damp dampen Related Terms deaden damp deafen weakener26. break [ n ] a personal or social separation (as between opposing factions)
Examples:
"they hoped to avoid a break in relations"
(James Bryant Conant, Slums and Suburbs...)
If the student drops_out of high_school , the break with the school is even more complete .
Synonyms break breach severance rift falling_out rupture Related Terms separation sever27. break [ n ] a pause from doing something (as work)
Examples:
"we took a 10-minute break"
"he took time out to recuperate"
([Anonymous,] "The Attack on Employee Services"...)
Vending_machines can alleviate the long hike to the cafeteria during the break with resulting waste of production time .
Synonyms respite break time_out recess Related Terms pause spring_break pause28. break [ v ] make a rupture in the ranks of the enemy or one's own by quitting or fleeing (military usage)
Examples:
"The ranks broke"
29. break [ v ] discontinue an association or relation; go different ways
Examples:
"The business partners broke over a tax question"
"The couple separated after 25 years of marriage"
"My friend and I split up"
30. break [ v ] destroy the integrity of; usually by force; cause to separate into pieces or fragments
Examples:
"He broke the glass plate"
"She broke the match"
31. break [ v ] change suddenly from one tone quality or register to another
Examples:
"Her voice broke to a whisper when she started to talk about her children"
32. break [ v ] cause the failure or ruin of
Examples:
"His peccadilloes finally broke his marriage"
"This play will either make or break the playwright"
33. break [ v ] find the solution or key to
Examples:
"break the code"
34. break [ v ] diminish or discontinue abruptly
Examples:
"The patient's fever broke last night"
35. break [ v ] happen or take place
Examples:
"Things have been breaking pretty well for us in the past few months"
(informal)
36. break [ v ] undergo breaking
Examples:
"The simple vowels broke in many Germanic languages"
37. break [ v ] find a flaw in
Examples:
"break an alibi"
"break down a proof"
38. break [ v ] interrupt the flow of current in
Examples:
"break a circuit"
39. break [ v ] cease an action temporarily
Examples:
"We pause for station identification"
"let's break for lunch"
40. break [ v ] fall sharply
Examples:
"stock prices broke"
41. break [ v ] fracture a bone of
Examples: : "I broke my foot while playing hockey"
42. break [ v ] weaken or destroy in spirit or body
Examples:
"His resistance was broken"
"a man broken by the terrible experience of near-death"
43. break [ v ] pierce or penetrate
Examples:
"The blade broke her skin"
44. break [ v ] be released or become known; of news
Examples:
"News of her death broke in the morning"
45. break [ v ] become punctured or penetrated
Examples: : "The skin broke"
46. break [ v ] pierce the surface of
Examples:
"The fish broke the water"
47. break [ v ] of the male voice in puberty
Examples:
"his voice is breaking--he should no longer sing in the choir"
48. break [ v ] go to pieces
Examples:
"The lawn mower finally broke"
"The gears wore out"
"The old chair finally fell apart completely"
49. break [ v ] break a piece from a whole
Examples:
"break a branch from a tree"
50. break [ n ] the occurrence of breaking
Examples:
"the break in the dam threatened the valley"
51. break [ n ] an act of delaying or interrupting the continuity
Examples:
"it was presented without commercial breaks"
52. break [ n ] any frame in which a bowler fails to make a strike or spare
Examples:
"the break in the eighth frame cost him the match"
53. break [ v ] destroy the completeness of a set of related items
Examples:
"The book dealer would not break the set"
54. break [ v ] make the opening shot that scatters the balls, in billiards or pool
Synonyms break Related Terms shoot billiards55. break [ v ] separate from a clinch, in boxing
Examples:
"The referee broke the boxers"
56. break [ v ] exchange for smaller units of money
Examples:
"I had to break a $100 bill just to buy the candy"
57. break [ v ] do a break dance
Examples:
"Kids were break-dancing at the street corner"
58. break [ v ] happen, as of an event
Examples:
"Report the news as it develops"
"These political movements recrudesce from time to time"
59. break [ v ] become fractured; break or crack on the surface only
Examples:
"The glass cracked when it was heated"
60. break [ n ] (tennis) a score consisting of winning a game when your opponent was serving
Examples:
"he was up two breaks in the second set"
61. break [ v ] emerge from the surface, as of fish in water
Examples:
"The whales broke"
62. break [ v ] break down, literally or metaphorically
Examples:
"The wall collapsed"
"The business collapsed"
"The dam broke"
"The roof collapsed"
"The wall gave in"
"The roof finally gave under the weight of the ice"
63. break [ v ] stop and wait, as if awaiting further instructions or developments
Examples:
"Hold on a moment!"
"We broke at noon"
64. break [ v ] divide into pieces, as by bending or cutting
Examples:
"break the loaf of bread"
"break the crackers"
65. break [ n ] breaking of hard tissue such as bone
Examples:
"it was a nasty fracture"
"the break seems to have been caused by a fall"
66. break [ v ] invalidate by judicial action
Examples:
"The will was broken"
67. break [ v ] change directions suddenly
Synonyms break Related Terms switch68. break [ v ] assign to a lower position; reduce in rank
Examples:
"She was demoted because she always speaks up"
"He was broken down to Sargeant"
69. break [ v ] reduce to bankruptcy
Examples:
"My daughter's fancy wedding is going to break me!"
"The slump in the financial markets smashed him"
70. break [ n ] a time interval during which there is a temporary cessation of something
Synonyms pause interruption break suspension intermission Related Terms time_interval letup respite delay lapse blackout halftime time-out caesura dead_air hesitate freeze71. break [ n ] the opening shot that scatters the balls in billiards or pool
Synonyms break Related Terms stroke pool billiards72. break [ v ] come forth or begin from a state of latency
Examples:
"The first winter storm broke over New York"
73. break [ n ] a sudden dash
Examples:
"he made a break for the open door"
74. break [ v ] give up
Examples: : "break cigarette smoking"
75. break [ v ] cause to give up a habit
Examples:
"She finally broke herself of smoking cigarettes"
76. break [ v ] vary or interrupt a uniformity or continuity
Examples:
"The flat plain was broken by sharply mesas"
77. break [ v ] come to an end
Examples:
"The heat wave finally broke yesterday"
78. break [ n ] an escape from jail
Examples:
"the breakout was carefully planned"
Similar Spelling
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