broken
- v terminate
- v become separated into pieces or fragments
- v render inoperable or ineffective
- v ruin completely
- v destroy the integrity of; usually by force; cause to separate into pieces or fragments
- v act in disregard of laws, rules, contracts, or promises
- v move away or escape suddenly
- v scatter or part
- 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
- v make submissive, obedient, or useful
- 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
- v come into being
- v stop operating or functioning
- 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
- v curl over and fall apart in surf or foam, of waves
- v lessen in force or effect
- v be broken in
- v come to an end
- v vary or interrupt a uniformity or continuity
The flat plain was broken by tall mesas - v cause to give up a habit
- v give up
- v come forth or begin from a state of latency
- v happen or take place
- v cause the failure or ruin of
- v invalidate by judicial action
The will was broken - v discontinue an association or relation; go different ways
- 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
- v break down, literally or metaphorically
- 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
- v go to pieces
- v break a piece from a whole
- v become punctured or penetrated
- v pierce or penetrate
- v be released or become known; of news
- v cease an action temporarily
- v interrupt the flow of current in
- v undergo breaking
- v find a flaw in
- v find the solution or key to
- v change suddenly from one tone quality or register to another
- v happen
- v become fractured; break or crack on the surface only
- v crack; of the male voice in puberty
- v fall sharply
- v fracture a bone of
- v diminish or discontinue abruptly
- v weaken or destroy in spirit or body
His resistance was broken
a man broken by the terrible experience of near-death - a physically and forcibly separated into pieces or cracked or split
a broken mirror
a broken tooth
a broken leg
his neck is broken - a not continuous in space, time, or sequence or varying abruptly
broken lines of defense
a broken cable transmission
broken sleep
tear off the stub above the broken line
a broken note
broken sobs - s subdued or brought low in condition or status
a broken man
his broken spirit - a (especially of promises or contracts) having been violated or disregarded
broken (or unkept) promises
broken contracts - s tamed or trained to obey
a horse broken to the saddle
this old nag is well broken in - s topographically very uneven
broken terrain - s imperfectly spoken or written
broken English - s thrown into a state of disarray or confusion
troops fleeing in broken ranks - s weakened and infirm
broken health resulting from alcoholism - s destroyed financially
the broken fortunes of the family - s out of working order (`busted' is an informal substitute for `broken')
a broken washing machine
the coke machine is broken - s discontinuous
broken clouds
broken sunshine - s lacking a part or parts
a broken set of encyclopedia
broken-backed
- s having the spine damaged
a broken-backed book
a broken-backed old horse - s (of a horse) having bones of the back united by a bony growth
- s (of a ship) so weakened as to sag at each end
broken-down
- s in deplorable condition
a broken-down fence - s not in working order
had to push the broken-down car
a broken-down tractor fit only for children to play on
broken-field
- s varying in direction suddenly and frequently
broken-field running