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Wordswarms From Years PastAdjacent Wordsbreadrootbreadstick breadstuff Breadth breadth index breadth of effect Breadthless breadthways Breadthwinner breadthwise breadwinner breadwinning bready break a leg break apart break away break beat break bread break bulk break camp break cover break covert break dance break dancing break down break even break faith break forth Full-text Search for "Break" 2132 |
Break definitions
Webster's 1828 DictionaryBREAK, v.t. pret. broke, [brake.obs.] pp. broke or broken. WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)n Merriam Webster's
Oxford Reference Dictionary1. v. & n. --v. (past broke or archaic brake; past part. broken or archaic broke) 1 tr. & intr. a separate into pieces under a blow or strain; shatter. b make or become inoperative, esp. from damage (the toaster has broken). c break a bone in or dislocate (part of the body). d break the skin of (the head or crown). 2 a tr. cause or effect an interruption in (broke our journey; the spell was broken; broke the silence). b intr. have an interval between spells of work (let's break now; we broke for tea). 3 tr. fail to observe or keep (a law, promise, etc.). 4 a tr. & intr. make or become subdued or weakened; yield or cause to yield (broke his spirit; he broke under the strain). b tr. weaken the effect of (a fall, blow, etc.). c tr. = break in 3c. d tr. defeat, destroy (broke the enemy's power). e tr. defeat the object of (a strike, e.g. by engaging other personnel). 5 tr. surpass (a record). 6 intr. (foll. by with) quarrel or cease association with (another person etc.). 7 tr. a be no longer subject to (a habit). b (foll. by of) cause (a person) to be free of a habit (broke them of their addiction). 8 tr. & intr. reveal or be revealed; (cause to) become known (broke the news; the story broke on Friday). 9 intr. a (of the weather) change suddenly, esp. after a fine spell. b (of waves) curl over and dissolve into foam. c (of the day) dawn. d (of clouds) move apart; show a gap. e (of a storm) begin violently. 10 tr. Electr. disconnect (a circuit). 11 intr. a (of the voice) change with emotion. b (of a boy's voice) change in register etc. at puberty. 12 tr. a (often foll. by up) divide (a set etc.) into parts, e.g. by selling to different buyers. b change (a banknote etc.) for coins. 13 tr. ruin (an individual or institution) financially (see also BROKE adj.). 14 tr. penetrate (e.g. a safe) by force. 15 tr. decipher (a code). 16 tr. make (a way, path, etc.) by separating obstacles. 17 intr. burst forth (the sun broke through the clouds). 18 Mil. a intr. (of troops) disperse in confusion. b tr. make a rupture in (ranks). 19 a intr. (usu. foll. by free, loose, out, etc.) escape from constraint by a sudden effort. b tr. escape or emerge from (prison, bounds, cover, etc.). 20 tr. Tennis etc. win a game against (an opponent's service). 21 intr. Boxing etc. (of two fighters, usu. at the referee's command) come out of a clinch. 22 Mil. tr. demote (an officer). 23 intr. esp. Stock Exch. (of prices) fall sharply. 24 intr. Cricket (of a bowled ball) change direction on bouncing. 25 intr. Billiards etc. disperse the balls at the beginning of a game. 26 tr. unfurl (a flag etc.). 27 tr. Phonet. subject (a vowel) to fracture. 28 tr. fail to rejoin (one's ship) after absence on leave. 29 tr. disprove (an alibi). --n. 1 a an act or instance of breaking. b a point where something is broken; a gap. 2 an interval, an interruption; a pause in work. 3 a sudden dash (esp. to escape). 4 colloq. a a piece of good luck; a fair chance. b (also bad break) an unfortunate remark or action, a blunder. 5 Cricket a change in direction of a bowled ball on bouncing. 6 Billiards etc. a a series of points scored during one turn. b the opening shot that disperses the balls. 7 Mus. (in jazz) a short unaccompanied passage for a soloist, usu. improvised. 8 Electr. a discontinuity in a circuit. Phrases and idioms: bad break colloq. 1 a piece of bad luck. 2 a mistake or blunder. break away make or become free or separate (see also BREAKAWAY). break the back of 1 do the hardest or greatest part of. 2 overburden (a person). break bulk see BULK. break crop a crop grown to avoid the continual growing of cereals. break-dancing an energetic style of street-dancing, developed by US Blacks. break down 1 a fail in mechanical action; cease to function. b (of human relationships etc.) fail, collapse. c fail in (esp. mental) health. d be overcome by emotion; collapse in tears. 2 a demolish, destroy. b suppress (resistance). c force (a person) to yield under pressure. 3 analyse into components (see also BREAKDOWN). break even emerge from a transaction etc. with neither profit nor loss. break a person's heart see HEART. break the ice 1 begin to overcome formality or shyness, esp. between strangers. 2 make a start. break in 1 enter premises by force, esp. with criminal intent. 2 interrupt. 3 a accustom to a habit etc. b wear etc. until comfortable. c tame or discipline (an animal); accustom (a horse) to saddle and bridle etc. 4 Austral. & NZ bring (virgin land) into cultivation. break-in n. an illegal forced entry into premises, esp. with criminal intent. breaking and entering (formerly) the illegal entering of a building with intent to commit a felony. breaking-point the point of greatest strain, at which a thing breaks or a person gives way. break in on disturb; interrupt. break into 1 enter forcibly or violently. 2 a suddenly begin, burst forth with (a song, laughter, etc.). b suddenly change one's pace for (a faster one) (broke into a gallop). 3 interrupt. break-line Printing the last line of a paragraph (usu. not of full length). break of day dawn. break off 1 detach by breaking. 2 bring to an end. 3 cease talking etc. break open open forcibly. break out 1 escape by force, esp. from prison. 2 begin suddenly; burst forth (then violence broke out). 3 (foll. by in) become covered in (a rash etc.). 4 exclaim. 5 release (a run-up flag). 6 US a open up (a receptacle) and remove its contents. b remove (articles) from a place of storage. break-out n. a forcible escape. break point 1 a place or time at which an interruption or change is made. 2 Computing (usu. breakpoint) a place in a computer program where the sequence of instructions is interrupted, esp. by another program. 3 a (in lawn tennis) a point which would win the game for the player(s) receiving service. b the situation at which the receiver(s) may break service by winning such a point. 4 = breaking-point. break step get out of step. break up 1 break into small pieces. 2 disperse; disband. 3 end the school term. 4 a terminate a relationship; disband. b cause to do this. 5 (of the weather) change suddenly (esp. after a fine spell). 6 esp. US a upset or be upset. b excite or be excited. c convulse or be convulsed (see also BREAKUP). break wind release gas from the anus. break one's word see WORD. Etymology: OE brecan f. Gmc 2. n. 1 a carriage-frame without a body, for breaking in young horses. 2 = BRAKE(2). Etymology: perh. = brake framework: 17th c., of unkn. orig. Webster's 1913 Dictionary6. That which has been publicly achieved in any kind of competitive sport as recorded in some authoritative manner, as the time made by a winning horse in a race. Court of record (pron. r?*k?rd" in Eng.), a court whose acts and judicial proceedings are written on parchment or in books for a perpetual memorial. Debt of record, a debt which appears to be due by the evidence of a court of record, as upon a judgment or a cognizance. Trial by record, a trial which is had when a matter of record is pleaded, and the opposite party pleads that there is no such record. In this case the trial is by inspection of the record itself, no other evidence being admissible. --Blackstone. To beat, or break, the record (Sporting), to surpass any performance of like kind as authoritatively recorded; as, to break the record in a walking match. Webster's 1913 DictionaryBreak Break, v. t. [imp. broke, (Obs. Brake); p. p. Broken, (Obs. Broke); p. pr. & vb. n. Breaking.] [OE. breken, AS. brecan; akin to OS. brekan, D. breken, OHG. brehhan, G. brechen, Icel. braka to creak, Sw. braka, br["a]kka to crack, Dan. br[ae]kke to break, Goth. brikan to break, L. frangere. Cf. Bray to pound, Breach, Fragile.] 1. To strain apart; to sever by fracture; to divide with violence; as, to break a rope or chain; to break a seal; to break an axle; to break rocks or coal; to break a lock. --Shak. 2. To lay open as by breaking; to divide; as, to break a package of goods. 3. To lay open, as a purpose; to disclose, divulge, or communicate. Katharine, break thy mind to me. --Shak. 4. To infringe or violate, as an obligation, law, or promise. Out, out, hyena! these are thy wonted arts . . . To break all faith, all vows, deceive, betray. --Milton 5. To interrupt; to destroy the continuity of; to dissolve or terminate; as, to break silence; to break one's sleep; to break one's journey. Go, release them, Ariel; My charms I'll break, their senses I'll restore. --Shak. 6. To destroy the completeness of; to remove a part from; as, to break a set. 7. To destroy the arrangement of; to throw into disorder; to pierce; as, the cavalry were not able to break the British squares. 8. To shatter to pieces; to reduce to fragments. The victim broke in pieces the musical instruments with which he had solaced the hours of captivity. --Prescott. 9. To exchange for other money or currency of smaller denomination; as, to break a five dollar bill. 10. To destroy the strength, firmness, or consistency of; as, to break flax. 11. To weaken or impair, as health, spirit, or mind. An old man, broken with the storms of state. --Shak. 12. To diminish the force of; to lessen the shock of, as a fall or blow. I'll rather leap down first, and break your fall. --Dryden. 13. To impart, as news or information; to broach; -- with to, and often with a modified word implying some reserve; as, to break the news gently to the widow; to break a purpose cautiously to a friend. 14. To tame; to reduce to subjection; to make tractable; to discipline; as, to break a horse to the harness or saddle. ``To break a colt.'' --Spenser. Why, then thou canst not break her to the lute? --Shak. 15. To destroy the financial credit of; to make bankrupt; to ruin. With arts like these rich Matho, when he speaks, Attracts all fees, and little lawyers breaks. --Dryden. 16. To destroy the official character and standing of; to cashier; to dismiss. I see a great officer broken. --Swift. Note: With prepositions or adverbs: To break down. (a) To crush; to overwhelm; as, to break down one's strength; to break down opposition. (b) To remove, or open a way through, by breaking; as, to break down a door or wall. To break in. (a) To force in; as, to break in a door. (b) To train; to discipline; as, a horse well broken in. To break of, to rid of; to cause to abandon; as, to break one of a habit. To break off. (a) To separate by breaking; as, to break off a twig. (b) To stop suddenly; to abandon. ``Break off thy sins by righteousness.'' --Dan. iv. 27. To break open, to open by breaking. ``Open the door, or I will break it open.'' --Shak. To break out, to take or force out by breaking; as, to break out a pane of glass. To break out a cargo, to unstow a cargo, so as to unload it easily. To break through. (a) To make an opening through, as, as by violence or the force of gravity; to pass violently through; as, to break through the enemy's lines; to break through the ice. (b) To disregard; as, to break through the ceremony. To break up. (a) To separate into parts; to plow (new or fallow ground). ``Break up this capon.'' --Shak. ``Break up your fallow ground.'' --Jer. iv. 3. (b) To dissolve; to put an end to. ``Break up the court.'' --Shak. To break (one) all up, to unsettle or disconcert completely; to upset. [Colloq.] Note: With an immediate object: To break the back. (a) To dislocate the backbone; hence, to disable totally. (b) To get through the worst part of; as, to break the back of a difficult undertaking. To break bulk, to destroy the entirety of a load by removing a portion of it; to begin to unload; also, to transfer in detail, as from boats to cars. To break cover, to burst forth from a protecting concealment, as game when hunted. To break a deer or stag, to cut it up and apportion the parts among those entitled to a share. To break fast, to partake of food after abstinence. See Breakfast. To break ground. (a) To open the earth as for planting; to commence excavation, as for building, siege operations, and the like; as, to break ground for a foundation, a canal, or a railroad. (b) Fig.: To begin to execute any plan. (c) (Naut.) To release the anchor from the bottom. To break the heart, to crush or overwhelm (one) with grief. To break a house (Law), to remove or set aside with violence and a felonious intent any part of a house or of the fastenings provided to secure it. To break the ice, to get through first difficulties; to overcome obstacles and make a beginning; to introduce a subject. To break jail, to escape from confinement in jail, usually by forcible means. To break a jest, to utter a jest. ``Patroclus . . . the livelong day breaks scurril jests.'' --Shak. To break joints, to lay or arrange bricks, shingles, etc., so that the joints in one course shall not coincide with those in the preceding course. To break a lance, to engage in a tilt or contest. To break the neck, to dislocate the joints of the neck. To break no squares, to create no trouble. [Obs.] To break a path, road, etc., to open a way through obstacles by force or labor. To break upon a wheel, to execute or torture, as a criminal by stretching him upon a wheel, and breaking his limbs with an iron bar; -- a mode of punishment formerly employed in some countries. To break wind, to give vent to wind from the anus. Syn: To dispart; rend; tear; shatter; batter; violate; infringe; demolish; destroy; burst; dislocate. Webster's 1913 DictionaryBreak Break, v. i. 1. To come apart or divide into two or more pieces, usually with suddenness and violence; to part; to burst asunder. 2. To open spontaneously, or by pressure from within, as a bubble, a tumor, a seed vessel, a bag. Else the bottle break, and the wine runneth out. --Math. ix. 17. 3. To burst forth; to make its way; to come to view; to appear; to dawn. The day begins to break, and night is fled. --Shak. And from the turf a fountain broke, and gurgled at our feet. --Wordsworth. 4. To burst forth violently, as a storm. The clouds are still above; and, while I speak, A second deluge o'er our head may break. --Dryden. 5. To open up; to be scattered; to be dissipated; as, the clouds are breaking. At length the darkness begins to break. --Macaulay. 6. To become weakened in constitution or faculties; to lose health or strength. See how the dean begins to break; Poor gentleman! he droops apace. --Swift. 7. To be crushed, or overwhelmed with sorrow or grief; as, my heart is breaking. 8. To fall in business; to become bankrupt. He that puts all upon adventures doth oftentimes break, and come to poverty. --Bacn. 9. To make an abrupt or sudden change; to change the gait; as, to break into a run or gallop. 10. To fail in musical quality; as, a singer's voice breaks when it is strained beyond its compass and a tone or note is not completed, but degenerates into an unmusical sound instead. Also, to change in tone, as a boy's voice at puberty. 11. To fall out; to terminate friendship. To break upon the score of danger or expense is to be mean and narrow-spirited. --Collier. Note: With prepositions or adverbs: To break away, to disengage one's self abruptly; to come or go away against resistance. Fear me not, man; I will not break away. --Shak. To break down. (a) To come down by breaking; as, the coach broke down. (b) To fail in any undertaking. He had broken down almost at the outset. --Thackeray. To break forth, to issue; to come out suddenly, as sound, light, etc. ``Then shall thy light break forth as the morning.'' --Isa. lviii. 8; Note: often with into in expressing or giving vent to one's feelings. ``Break forth into singing, ye mountains.'' --Isa. xliv. 23. To break from, to go away from abruptly. This radiant from the circling crowd he broke. --Dryden. To break into, to enter by breaking; as, to break into a house. To break in upon, to enter or approach violently or unexpectedly. ``This, this is he; softly awhile; let us not break in upon him.'' --Milton. To break loose. (a) To extricate one's self forcibly. ``Who would not, finding way, break loose from hell?'' --Milton. (b) To cast off restraint, as of morals or propriety. To break off. (a) To become separated by rupture, or with suddenness and violence. (b) To desist or cease suddenly. ``Nay, forward, old man; do not break off so.'' --Shak. To break off from, to desist from; to abandon, as a habit. To break out. (a) To burst forth; to escape from restraint; to appear suddenly, as a fire or an epidemic. ``For in the wilderness shall waters break out, and stream in the desert.'' --Isa. xxxv. 6 (b) To show itself in cutaneous eruptions; -- said of a disease. (c) To have a rash or eruption on the akin; -- said of a patient. To break over, to overflow; to go beyond limits. To break up. (a) To become separated into parts or fragments; as, the ice break up in the rivers; the wreck will break up in the next storm. (b) To disperse. ``The company breaks up.'' --I. Watts. To break upon, to discover itself suddenly to; to dawn upon. To break with. (a) To fall out; to sever one's relations with; to part friendship. ``It can not be the Volsces dare break with us.'' --Shak. ``If she did not intend to marry Clive, she should have broken with him altogether.'' --Thackeray. (b) To come to an explanation; to enter into conference; to speak. [Obs.] ``I will break with her and with her father.'' --Shak. Webster's 1913 DictionaryBreak Break ( [1913 Webster]), n. [See Break, v. t., and cf. Brake (the instrument), Breach, Brack a crack.] 1. An opening made by fracture or disruption. 2. An interruption of continuity; change of direction; as, a break in a wall; a break in the deck of a ship. Specifically: (a) (Arch.) A projection or recess from the face of a building. (b) (Elec.) An opening or displacement in the circuit, interrupting the electrical current. 3. An interruption; a pause; as, a break in friendship; a break in the conversation. 4. An interruption in continuity in writing or printing, as where there is an omission, an unfilled line, etc. All modern trash is Set forth with numerous breaks and dashes. --Swift. 5. The first appearing, as of light in the morning; the dawn; as, the break of day; the break of dawn. 6. A large four-wheeled carriage, having a straight body and calash top, with the driver's seat in front and the footman's behind. 7. A device for checking motion, or for measuring friction. See Brake, n. 9 & 10. 8. (Teleg.) See Commutator. Collin's Cobuild Dictionary(breaks, breaking, broke, broken) Frequency: The word is one of the 700 most common words in English. 1. When an object breaks or when you break it, it suddenly separates into two or more pieces, often because it has been hit or dropped. He fell through the window, breaking the glass... The plate broke... Break the cauliflower into florets... The plane broke into three pieces. ...bombed-out buildings, surrounded by broken glass and rubble... The only sound was the crackle of breaking ice. VERB: V n, V, V n into pl-n, V into pl-n, V-ed, V-ing 2. If you break a part of your body such as your leg, your arm, or your nose, or if a bone breaks, you are injured because a bone cracks or splits. She broke a leg in a skiing accident... Old bones break easily... Several people were treated for broken bones. VERB: V n, V, V-ed • Break is also a noun. It has caused a bad break to Gabriella's leg. N-COUNT 3. If a surface, cover, or seal breaks or if something breaks it, a hole or tear is made in it, so that a substance can pass through. Once you've broken the seal of a bottle there's no way you can put it back together again... The bandage must be put on when the blister breaks... Do not use the cream on broken skin. VERB: V n, V, V-ed 4. When a tool or piece of machinery breaks or when you break it, it is damaged and no longer works. When the clutch broke, the car was locked into second gear... The lead biker broke his bike chain. VERB: V, V n, also V-ed 5. If you break a rule, promise, or agreement, you do something that you should not do according to that rule, promise, or agreement. We didn't know we were breaking the law. ...broken promises. VERB: V n, V-ed 6. If you break free or loose, you free yourself from something or escape from it. She broke free by thrusting her elbow into his chest. VERB: V adj 7. If someone breaks something, especially a difficult or unpleasant situation that has existed for some time, they end it or change it. New proposals have been put forward to break the deadlock among rival factions... The country is heading towards elections which may break the party's long hold on power. VERB: V n, V n • Break is also a noun. Nothing that might lead to a break in the deadlock has been discussed yet. N-COUNT: usu sing 8. If someone or something breaks a silence, they say something or make a noise after a long period of silence. Hugh broke the silence. 'Is she always late?' he asked... VERB: V n 9. If there is a break in the cloud or weather, it changes and there is a short period of sunshine or fine weather. A sudden break in the cloud allowed rescuers to spot Michael Benson. N-COUNT 10. If you break with a group of people or a traditional way of doing things, or you break your connection with them, you stop being involved with that group or stop doing things in that way. In 1959, Akihito broke with imperial tradition by marrying a commoner... They were determined to break from precedent... They have yet to break the link with the trade unions. VERB: V with n, V from n, V n with n, also V n • Break is also a noun. Making a completely clean break with the past, the couple got rid of all their old furniture. N-COUNT: usu sing 11. If you break a habit or if someone breaks you of it, you no longer have that habit. If you continue to smoke, keep trying to break the habit... The professor hoped to break the students of the habit of looking for easy answers. VERB: V n, V n of n 12. To break someone means to destroy their determination and courage, their success, or their career. He never let his jailers break him... Ken's wife, Vicki, said: 'He's a broken man.' = destroy VERB: V n, V-ed 13. If someone breaks for a short period of time, they rest or change from what they are doing for a short period. They broke for lunch. VERB: V 14. A break is a short period of time when you have a rest or a change from what you are doing, especially if you are working or if you are in a boring or unpleasant situation. They may be able to help with childcare so that you can have a break... I thought a 15 min break from his work would do him good... She rang Moira during a coffee break. N-COUNT: oft N from/in n see also lunch break, tea break 15. A break is a short holiday. They are currently taking a short break in Spain. N-COUNT 16. If you break your journey somewhere, you stop there for a short time so that you can have a rest. Because of the heat we broke our journey at a small country hotel. VERB: V n 17. To break the force of something such as a blow or fall means to weaken its effect, for example by getting in the way of it. He sustained serious neck injuries after he broke someone's fall. VERB: V n 18. When a piece of news breaks, people hear about it from the newspapers, television, or radio. The news broke that the Prime Minister had resigned... He resigned from his post as Bishop when the scandal broke. VERB: V, V 19. When you break a piece of bad news to someone, you tell it to them, usually in a kind way. Then Louise broke the news that she was leaving me... I worried for ages and decided that I had better break it to her. VERB: V n, V n to n 20. A break is a lucky opportunity that someone gets to achieve something. (INFORMAL) He went into TV and got his first break playing opposite Sid James in the series 'Citizen James'. N-COUNT 21. If you break a record, you beat the previous record for a particular achievement. Jurassic Park had broken all box office records. VERB: V n see also record-breaking 22. When day or dawn breaks, it starts to grow light after the night has ended. They continued the search as dawn broke. VERB: V see also daybreak 23. When a wave breaks, it passes its highest point and turns downwards, for example when it reaches the shore. Danny listened to the waves breaking against the shore. VERB: V 24. If you break a secret code, you work out how to understand it. It was feared they could break the Allies' codes. = crack VERB: V n 25. If someone's voice breaks when they are speaking, it changes its sound, for example because they are sad or afraid. Godfrey's voice broke, and halted. VERB: V 26. When a boy's voice breaks, it becomes deeper and sounds more like a man's voice. He sings with the strained discomfort of someone whose voice hasn't quite broken. VERB: V 27. If the weather breaks or a storm breaks, it suddenly becomes rainy or stormy after a period of sunshine. I've been waiting for the weather to break... VERB: V 28. In tennis, if you break your opponent's serve, you win a game in which your opponent is serving. He broke McEnroe's serve. VERB: V n • Break is also a noun. A single break of serve settled the first two sets. N-COUNT 29. see also broke, broken, heartbreak, heartbreaking, heartbroken, outbreak 30. The break of day or the break of dawn is the time when it begins to grow light after the night. (LITERARY) 'I,' he finished poetically, 'will watch over you to the break of day.' PHRASE: prep PHR 31. You can say 'give me a break' to show that you are annoyed by what someone has said or done. (INFORMAL) 'I'm a real intellectual-type guy, Tracy,' James joked. 'Oh, give me a break,' Tracy moaned. CONVENTION [feelings] 32. If you make a break or make a break for it, you run to escape from something. The moment had come to make a break or die... PHRASE: V inflects 33. to break cover: see cover to break even: see even to break new ground: see ground to break someone's heart: see heart all hell breaks loose: see hell to break the ice: see ice to break ranks: see rank to break wind: see wind International Standard Bible Encyclopediabrak: shabhar = "break" (down, off, in pieces, up), "destroy," "quench" (Isa 14:25; Jer 19:10,11; Eze 4:16; Am 1:5); paraq = "to break off" or "craunch"; figuratively "to deliver" (Ge 27:40 the King James Version); `araph = "to break the neck," hence, "to destroy" (Ex 13:13); harac = "to break through" (Ex 19:21,24); parats = "to break" (forth, away), occurs in Ex 19:22,24; 1Sa 25:10; "breaking faith," Ho 4:2; parach = "to break forth as a bud" (Le 13:12); nathats or nathaq = "destroy" (Eze 23:34 the King James Version, the Revised Version (British and American) "gnaw"; see BREAST); chalal = "profane," "defile," "stain" (Nu 30:2; Ps 89:31,34); baqa = "rip open" (2Ki 3:26; Isa 58:8); ra`a` = "to spoil by breaking to pieces," "to make good for nothing" (Job 34:24; Ps 2:9; Jer 15:12, the King James Version "Shall iron break northern iron?"); patsach = "to break out" (in joyful sound), "break forth," "make a noise" (Isa 14:7, the nations rejoice in the peace which follows the fall of the oppressor); nir = "to glisten," "gleam" (as of a fresh furrow) (Jer 4:3; Ho 10:12); pathach = "to open wide," "loosen," "have vent" (Jer 1:14); naphats = "to dash to pieces or scatter," "overspread," "scatter" (Jer 48:12, the work usually done carefully shall be done roughly; Jer 51:20-23, descriptive of the terrible fate appointed for Babylon); na'aph = "to break wedlock" (Eze 16:38); tsalach or tsaleach = "break out," "come mightily" (Am 5:6). The New Testament employs luo = "to loosen," "dissolve" (Mt 5:19); diorusso = "to penetrate burglariously," "break through" (Mt 6:19,20, Greek "dig through"); rhegnumi or rhesso = "to disrupt," "burst," "to utter with a loud voice" (Ga 4:27); klao = "to break" (Ac 20:7, "to break bread," i.e. to celebrate the Lord's Supper; 1Co 10:16). Soule's Dictionary of English Synonyms
Moby Thesaurusabeyance, about ship, about-face, abrade, abrasion, abscond, abysm, abyss, accidentality, acclimate, acclimatize, accommodate, accommodation, accustom, actuarial calculation, adapt, adaptation, adjust, adjustment, adventitiousness, agree to disagree, alienation, alter, alteration, ameliorate, amelioration, announce, apostasy, appear, apprentice, arrearage, arroyo, back and fill, bankrupt, bark, be at cross-purposes, be changed, be converted into, be poised, be renewed, be ruined, bear away, bear market, bear off, bear to starboard, bearish market, beat, beat about, beat down, become insolvent, become public, bed, bed down, befall, begin, bend, betide, betterment, billow, blemish, blessing, bloody, blooper, blow, boner, boo-boo, boot, bottom out, bounce, box canyon, box off, breach, breach of friendship, break, break away, break down, break forth, break ground, break in, break of, break off, break open, break out, break the ice, break through, break to harness, break up, break with, breakage, breakout, breath, breathe, breather, breathing place, breathing space, breathing spell, breathing time, breed, bridle, brighten, bring about, bring low, bring round, bring to terms, bring up, broken circuit, browbeat, brush, bulldoze, bully, bump, bunk, burglarize, burgle, burn, burn off, burst, burst forth, burst in, bust, buzz about, caesura, call a break, call time, can, cant, cant round, canyon, case harden, cashier, cast, cast about, castrate, casualness, cave, cave in, cavity, cease, cease-fire, cessation, chafe, chance, change, change course, change of heart, change the heading, changeableness, chap, chasm, cheapen, cheapening, check, checker, chimney, chink, chip, chop, chop and change, cigarette break, cipher, circuit, circuital field, circulate, clamp down on, clash, claw, cleavage, cleave, cleft, cleuch, closed circuit, clough, cocktail hour, coerce, coffee break, col, collapse, collide, comb, come about, come apart, come around, come forth, come off, come out, come round, come unstuck, commence, comminute, communicate, compel, complete circuit, concussion, condition, confirm, conflict, confound, confute, conk out, conquer, constructive change, continuity, contradict, contravene, controvert, conversion, convey, coulee, couloir, counter, cow, crack, crackle, cranny, crash, craze, crevasse, crevice, cripple, crumble, crumple, crush, cryptanalyze, cultivate, cure, curry, currycomb, cut, cut apart, cut off, cut prices, cwm, dash, daunt, dawn, day off, dead circuit, debilitate, decamp, decipher, declare a recess, decline, declining market, decompose, deconsecrate, decrypt, defalcation, defeat, defect, defection, deficiency, deficit, defile, deflate, deflation, defrock, defy, degenerate, degeneration, degenerative change, degrade, deliverance, delivery, dell, dement, demerit, demolish, demoralize, demote, depart, depart from, deplume, depose, depreciate, depreciation, deprive, despotize, destiny, destroy, detach, deteriorate, deterioration, dethrone, devaluate, devaluation, develop, deviate, deviation, differ, difference, dike, disaccord, disaccustom, disaffection, disagree, disarrange, disavow, disband, disbar, discipline, disclose, disconfirm, discontinuation, discontinue, discontinuity, discourage, discrown, disemploy, disengage, disenthrone, disfavor, disgrade, disintegrate, disjoin, dismiss, disobey, disperse, displace, displume, disregard, disrupt, disruption, dissent, dissolve, disturb, disunion, disunity, ditch, dive, diverge, divergence, diversification, diversify, diversion, diversity, divide, dividedness, division, divulge, do violence to, domesticate, domesticize, domineer, domineer over, donga, double a point, downgrade, downtime, draw, drench, drill, droop, drop, drum out, ease up, ebb and flow, educate, emerge, emergence, end, enforced respite, enslave, erupt, escape, escapism, establish, estrangement, evasion, evert, excavation, excommunicate, exercise, exfoliate, exhaust, expel, explode, extrication, fade, fail, faint, fall, fall in price, fall out, fall to pieces, falling-out, familiarize, fate, fault, faux, feed, fell, fetch about, fetch up, find vent, fire, fissure, fit, fitting, fix, fizzle out, flag, flash burn, flatten, flaw, flee, flight, flip-flop, flop, flout, fluke, flukiness, flume, fly, fly about, fodder, foil, fold, fold up, form, fortuitousness, fortuity, fortune, foster, found, fracture, fragment, fray, frazzle, freeing, fret, frustrate, furlough, furrow, gaffe, gall, galvanic circuit, gamble, gap, gape, gash, gentle, get about, get abroad, get afloat, get around, get exposure, get through, getaway, give away, give out, give the ax, give the gate, give up, give way, go, go about, go bankrupt, go broke, go downhill, go forth, go into receivership, go soft, go the rounds, go to pieces, go to pot, go to ruin, go under, go up, good fortune, good luck, gorge, gradual change, grind, grind down, groom, groove, grow bright, grow light, gulch, gulf, gully, gybe, habituate, half time, half-time intermission, halt, handle, hap, happenstance, happy chance, happy hour, harden, harness, haul around, have currency, heave, heave round, heedless hap, henpeck, hesitation, hiatus, hit the skids, hitch, hole, holiday, hot circuit, house-train, housebreak, how they fall, humble, humiliate, hurt, ignore, impart, impoverish, impropriety, improve, improvement, inaugurate, incise, incision, indecorum, indeterminacy, indeterminateness, infract, infringe, initiate, injure, injury, innovate, interfere, interim, interject, interlude, intermezzo, intermission, intermit, intermittence, interpose, interregnum, interrupt, interruption, interval, intervene, intimidate, intrude, inure, irregularity, issuance, issue, jailbreak, jangle, jar, jew down, jibe, jibe all standing, joint, jostle, keep down, keep under, kick, kick upstairs, kloof, knock off, lacerate, laceration, lack, lacuna, languish, lapse, lateral circuit, law of averages, lay off, layoff, leak, leakage, leave, leg, lesion, let go, let out, letup, liberation, lick into shape, lift, light, lighten, liquidate, litter, live circuit, look-in, loop, lord it over, lot, lower, lowering, luck, lucky break, lucky strike, lull, magnetic circuit, maim, make mincemeat of, make public, make redundant, manage, mark down, markdown, master, maul, meliorate, melioration, microcircuit, milk, mismatch, mismate, miss stays, missing link, mitigate, mitigation, moat, modification, modulate, modulation, moira, mortal wound, multiple circuit, multiple series, mutate, mutilate, mutilation, naturalize, need, negate, nose dive, nose-dive, notch, nullah, nurse, nurture, object, occasion, occur, off market, off-time, offend, omission, open, open rupture, opening, opportunity, oppress, orient, orientate, oust, out, outage, outlet, overawe, overbear, overcome, overmaster, override, overthrow, overwhelm, pare, parenthesis, pass, pass on, passage, path, pauper, pauperize, pause, peak, peg out, penetrate, pension, pension off, peter out, pierce, pine, plateau, plummet, plummeting, plunge, ply, point of repose, poop out, popple, practice, prepare, press heavy on, price cut, price fall, price reduction, principle of indeterminacy, printed circuit, prisonbreak, probability, problematicness, prostrate, puncture, purge, put about, put back, put down, put in tune, put to school, puzzle out, qualification, quell, quiet spell, radical change, raise, random sample, ravine, re-creation, read out of, ready, realignment, rear, rebut, recall of ambassadors, recess, redesign, reduce, reduction, reform, reformation, refute, rehearse, relax, release, relief, remaking, remission, remove, remove from office, rend, renewal, renounce, rent, replace, repress, repudiate, rescue, reshaping, resolve, respite, rest, resting point, restructuring, retire, retreating market, reveal, reversal, revival, revive, revivification, revolution, riddance, ride down, ride over, ride roughshod over, rift, rime, rip, rise, rise and fall, risk, rive, rob, roll, round a point, rub down, ruin, run, run of luck, rupture, sack, saddle, sag, sagging market, savage, scald, scale, scape, scatter, scend, schism, scissure, scorch, scotch, scrape, scratch, scuff, scuttle, seam, season, second-degree burn, see the light, send, send to school, separate forcibly, separation, serendipity, series multiple, set at defiance, set at naught, set naught by, set up, setting-free, sever, shard, shatter, shave, sheer, shift, shiver, short, short circuit, shortage, shot, show, shut down, sink, skin, slash, slew, slice, slit, slot, slump, smash, snap, snap the thread, soft market, solecism, sore, spell, splinter, split, sprain, spread, spread about, spread like wildfire, spring a leak, squeak, stab, stab wound, stand-down, start, statistical probability, stay, stick, stop, stop for breath, strain, streak of luck, strip, strip of office, strip of rank, stroke of luck, subdue, subjugate, sudden change, superannuate, suppress, surcease, surge, surplus, suspend, suspension, swell, swerve, swing round, swing the stern, switch, tack, take a break, take a recess, take a rest, take a turn, take five, take in hand, take ten, take the plunge, take time out, tame, tea break, tear, tell, ten, tend, terrorize, the breaks, theory of probability, third-degree burn, throw about, time, time off, time out, toss, total change, train, trample down, trample on, trample underfoot, trample upon, transgress, transition, transmit, transpire, trauma, traumatize, tread down, tread underfoot, tread upon, trench, trespass, trim, truce, turn, turn aside, turn back, turn into, turn off, turn out, turn over, turn the corner, turnabout, tyrannize, tyrannize over, ullage, uncertainty, uncertainty principle, unchurch, undergo a change, undermine, undulate, unevenness, unfold, unfrock, unman, unravel, unriddle, unsaddle, unseat, unthrone, upheaval, vacation, valley, vanquish, variation, variety, vary, vector field, veer, vent, violate, violent change, void, wadi, walk all over, walk over, want, wantage, warp, water, wave, weaken, wean, wear, wear away, wear out, wear ship, wear thin, weary, weigh heavy on, whatever comes, wilt, wind, wont, worsen, worsening, wound, wounds immedicable, wrench, yaw, yield, yoke |