v become separated into pieces or fragments
The figurine broke
v render inoperable or ineffective
You broke the alarm clock when you took it apart!
v ruin completely
v destroy the integrity of; usually by force; cause to separate into pieces or fragments
He broke the glass plate She broke the match
v act in disregard of laws, rules, contracts, or promises
v move away or escape suddenly
The horses broke from the stable Three inmates broke jail
v scatter or part
The clouds broke after the heavy downpour
v force out or release suddenly and often violently something pent up
v prevent completion
v enter someone's (virtual or real) property in an unauthorized manner, usually with the intent to steal or commit a violent act
Someone broke in while I was on vacation They broke into my car and stole my radio! who broke into my account last night?
v make submissive, obedient, or useful
I broke in the new intern
v fail to agree with; be in violation of; as of rules or patterns
v surpass in excellence
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
he broke the news to her
v come into being
light broke over the horizon Voices broke in the air
v stop operating or functioning
The bus we travelled in broke down on the way to town The coffee maker broke
v interrupt a continued activity
She had broken with the traditional patterns
v make a rupture in the ranks of the enemy or one's own by quitting or fleeing
The ranks broke
v curl over and fall apart in surf or foam, of waves
The surf broke
v lessen in force or effect
v be broken in
v come to an end
The heat wave finally broke yesterday
v vary or interrupt a uniformity or continuity
The flat plain was broken by tall mesas
v cause to give up a habit
She finally broke herself of smoking cigarettes
v give up
v come forth or begin from a state of latency
The first winter storm broke over New York
v happen or take place
v cause the failure or ruin of
His peccadilloes finally broke his marriage
v invalidate by judicial action
The will was broken
v discontinue an association or relation; go different ways
The business partners broke over a tax question
v assign to a lower position; reduce in rank
He was broken down to Sergeant
v reduce to bankruptcy
v change directions suddenly
v emerge from the surface of a body of water
The whales broke
v break down, literally or metaphorically
The dam broke
v do a break dance
v exchange for smaller units of money
v destroy the completeness of a set of related items
v make the opening shot that scatters the balls
v separate from a clinch, in boxing
The referee broke the boxers
v go to pieces
The lawn mower finally broke
v break a piece from a whole
v become punctured or penetrated
The skin broke
v pierce or penetrate
The blade broke her skin
v be released or become known; of news
News of her death broke in the morning
v cease an action temporarily
v interrupt the flow of current in
v undergo breaking
The simple vowels broke in many Germanic languages
v find a flaw in
v find the solution or key to
v change suddenly from one tone quality or register to another
Her voice broke to a whisper when she started to talk about her children
v happen
v become fractured; break or crack on the surface only
v crack; of the male voice in puberty
v fall sharply
stock prices broke
v fracture a bone of
I broke my foot while playing hockey
v diminish or discontinue abruptly
The patient's fever broke last night
v weaken or destroy in spirit or body
His resistance was broken a man broken by the terrible experience of near-death