Broken \Bro"ken\ (br[=o]"k'n), a. [From Break, v. t.] 1. Separated into parts or pieces by violence; divided into fragments; as, a broken chain or rope; a broken dish. 2. Disconnected; not continuous; also, rough; uneven; as, a broken surface. 3. Fractured; cracked; disunited; sundered; strained; apart; as, a broken reed; broken friendship. 4. Made infirm or weak, by disease, age, or hardships. The one being who remembered him as he been before his mind was broken. --G. Eliot. The broken soldier, kindly bade to stay, Sat by his fire, and talked the night away. --Goldsmith. 5. Subdued; humbled; contrite. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit. --Ps. li. 17. 6. Subjugated; trained for use, as a horse. 7. Crushed and ruined as by something that destroys hope; blighted. ``Her broken love and life.'' --G. Eliot. 8. Not carried into effect; not adhered to; violated; as, a broken promise, vow, or contract; a broken law. 9. Ruined financially; incapable of redeeming promises made, or of paying debts incurred; as, a broken bank; a broken tradesman. 10. Imperfectly spoken, as by a foreigner; as, broken English; imperfectly spoken on account of emotion; as, to say a few broken words at parting. Amidst the broken words and loud weeping of those grave senators. --Macaulay. Broken ground. (a) (Mil.) Rough or uneven ground; as, the troops were retarded in their advance by broken ground. (b) Ground recently opened with the plow. Broken line (Geom.), the straight lines which join a number of given points taken in some specified order. Broken meat, fragments of meat or other food. Broken number, a fraction. Broken weather, unsettled weather.

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