break

About 45.65 uses per million words.

Meaning

1. verb To separate into two or more pieces, to fracture or crack, by a process that cannot easily be reversed for reassembly.

   If the vase falls to the floor, it might break.

2. verb To crack or fracture (bone) under a physical strain.

   His ribs broke under the weight of the rocks piled on his chest.

3. verb To make the first shot; to scatter the balls from the initial neat arrangement.

   Is it your or my turn to break?

4. verb To divide (something, often money) into smaller units.

   Can you break a hundred-dollar bill for me?

5. verb To use a high-value denomination of currency, thus necessitating being given change in smaller denominations.

   I don't want to break my hundred dollar bill.

6. verb To change the orderliness or compactness of an arrangement.

   The soldier broke formation.

7. verb To disrupt the surface of and turn over the body of a substance.

   You have to break the soil with the ho.

8. verb To cause (a person or animal) to lose spirit or will; to crush the spirits of.

   Her child’s death broke Angela.

Similar words

breakage fracture rupture fall apart collapse breach fall in burst break up break off

Often followed by

the down up in with out through into it

Word family

breaking breaks broke broken catch a break catches a break catching a break caught a break gave her a break gave him a break