Dictionary entry details
• BREAK (noun)
Meaning:
Some abrupt occurrence that interrupts an ongoing activity
Classified under:
Nouns denoting natural events
Synonyms:
break; interruption
Context examples:
the telephone is an annoying interruption / there was a break in the action when a player was hurt
Hypernyms ("break" is a kind of...):
happening; natural event; occurrence; occurrent (an event that happens)
Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "break"):
dislocation; disruption (an event that results in a displacement or discontinuity)
punctuation (something that makes repeated and regular interruptions or divisions)
abatement; hiatus; reprieve; respite; suspension (an interruption in the intensity or amount of something)
eclipse; occultation (one celestial body obscures another)
Meaning:
An unexpected piece of good luck
Classified under:
Nouns denoting natural events
Synonyms:
happy chance; break; good luck
Context example:
he finally got his big break
Hypernyms ("break" is a kind of...):
accident; chance event; fortuity (anything that happens by chance without an apparent cause)
Meaning:
(geology) a crack in the earth's crust resulting from the displacement of one side with respect to the other
Classified under:
Nouns denoting natural objects (not man-made)
Synonyms:
faulting; geological fault; fault; fracture; break; shift
Context examples:
they built it right over a geological fault / he studied the faulting of the earth's crust
Hypernyms ("break" is a kind of...):
cleft; crack; crevice; fissure; scissure (a long narrow opening)
Meronyms (parts of "break"):
fault line ((geology) line determined by the intersection of a geological fault and the earth's surface)
Domain category:
geology (a science that deals with the history of the earth as recorded in rocks)
Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "break"):
strike-slip fault (a geological fault in which one of the adjacent surfaces appears to have moved horizontally)
inclined fault (a geological fault in which one side is above the other)
Instance hyponyms:
San Andreas Fault (a major geological fault in California; runs from San Diego to San Francisco; the source of serious earthquakes)
Denali Fault (a major open geological fault in Alaska)
Meaning:
A personal or social separation (as between opposing factions)
Classified under:
Nouns denoting natural events
Synonyms:
severance; falling out; rupture; breach; rift; break
Context example:
they hoped to avoid a break in relations
Hypernyms ("break" is a kind of...):
breakup; detachment; separation (coming apart)
Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "break"):
schism (the formal separation of a church into two churches or the withdrawal of one group over doctrinal differences)
Meaning:
A pause from doing something (as work)
Classified under:
Nouns denoting acts or actions
Synonyms:
time out; respite; break; recess
Context examples:
we took a 10-minute break / he took time out to recuperate
Hypernyms ("break" is a kind of...):
pause (temporary inactivity)
Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "break"):
spring break (a week or more of recess during the spring term at school)
Meaning:
The act of breaking something
Classified under:
Nouns denoting acts or actions
Synonyms:
breaking; breakage; break
Context example:
the breakage was unavoidable
Hypernyms ("break" is a kind of...):
change of integrity (the act of changing the unity or wholeness of something)
Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "break"):
rupture (the act of making a sudden noisy break)
shattering; smashing (the act of breaking something into small pieces)
crack; cracking; fracture (the act of cracking something)
chip; chipping; splintering (the act of chipping something)
Meaning:
A time interval during which there is a temporary cessation of something
Classified under:
Nouns denoting time and temporal relations
Synonyms:
pause; suspension; intermission; interruption; break
Hypernyms ("break" is a kind of...):
interval; time interval (a definite length of time marked off by two instants)
Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "break"):
letup; lull (a pause during which things are calm or activities are diminished)
time-out (a brief suspension of play)
relief; respite; rest; rest period (a pause for relaxation)
halftime (an intermission between the first and second half of a game)
delay; hold; postponement; time lag; wait (time during which some action is awaited)
dead air (an inadvertent interruption in a broadcast during which there is no sound)
caesura (a pause or interruption (as in a conversation))
blackout (a suspension of radio or tv broadcasting)
lapse (a break or intermission in the occurrence of something)
Meaning:
Breaking of hard tissue such as bone
Classified under:
Nouns denoting stable states of affairs
Synonyms:
fracture; break
Context examples:
it was a nasty fracture / the break seems to have been caused by a fall
Hypernyms ("break" is a kind of...):
harm; hurt; injury; trauma (any physical damage to the body caused by violence or accident or fracture etc.)
Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "break"):
closed fracture; simple fracture (an uncomplicated fracture in which the broken bones to not pierce the skin)
impacted fracture (fracture in which one broken end is wedged into the other broken end)
incomplete fracture (fracture that does not go across the entire width of the bone)
capillary fracture; hairline fracture (a fracture without separation of the fragments and the line of the break being very thin)
fatigue fracture; stress fracture (fracture resulting from excessive activity rather than a specific injury)
displaced fracture (fracture in which the two ends of the broken bone are separated from one another)
depressed fracture (fracture of the skull where the bone is pushed in)
compression fracture (fracture in which the bone collapses (especially in short bones such as vertebrae))
compound fracture; open fracture (bone fracture associated with lacerated soft tissue or an open wound)
complete fracture (break involving the entire width of the bone)
comminuted fracture (fracture in which the bone is splintered or crushed)
Meaning:
The occurrence of breaking
Classified under:
Nouns denoting natural events
Context example:
the break in the dam threatened the valley
Hypernyms ("break" is a kind of...):
breakup; detachment; separation (coming apart)
Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "break"):
snap (a sudden breaking)
Meaning:
An abrupt change in the tone or register of the voice (as at puberty or due to emotion)
Classified under:
Nouns denoting natural events
Context example:
then there was a break in her voice
Hypernyms ("break" is a kind of...):
alteration; change; modification (an event that occurs when something passes from one state or phase to another)
Meaning:
The opening shot that scatters the balls in billiards or pool
Classified under:
Nouns denoting acts or actions
Hypernyms ("break" is a kind of...):
shot; stroke ((sports) the act of swinging or striking at a ball with a club or racket or bat or cue or hand)
Holonyms ("break" is a part of...):
billiards (any of several games played on rectangular cloth-covered table (with cushioned edges) in which long tapering cue sticks are used to propel ivory (or composition) balls)
pocket billiards; pool (any of various games played on a pool table having 6 pockets)
Meaning:
(tennis) a score consisting of winning a game when your opponent was serving
Classified under:
Nouns denoting acts or actions
Synonyms:
break of serve; break
Context example:
he was up two breaks in the second set
Hypernyms ("break" is a kind of...):
score (the act of scoring in a game or sport)
Domain category:
lawn tennis; tennis (a game played with rackets by two or four players who hit a ball back and forth over a net that divides the court)
Meaning:
An act of delaying or interrupting the continuity
Classified under:
Nouns denoting acts or actions
Synonyms:
disruption; interruption; gap; break
Context examples:
it was presented without commercial breaks / there was a gap in his account
Hypernyms ("break" is a kind of...):
delay; holdup (the act of delaying; inactivity resulting in something being put off until a later time)
Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "break"):
barracking; heckling (shouting to interrupt a speech with which you disagree)
abruption; breaking off (an instance of sudden interruption)
interjection; interpellation; interpolation; interposition (the action of interjecting or interposing an action or remark that interrupts)
cut-in; insert ((broadcasting) a local announcement inserted into a network program)
cut-in; insert ((film) a still picture that is introduced and that interrupts the action of a film)
Meaning:
A sudden dash
Classified under:
Nouns denoting acts or actions
Context example:
he made a break for the open door
Hypernyms ("break" is a kind of...):
dash; sprint (a quick run)
Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "break"):
fast break ((basketball) a rapid dash to get a shot as soon as possible after taking possession of the ball)
Meaning:
Any frame in which a bowler fails to make a strike or spare
Classified under:
Nouns denoting acts or actions
Synonyms:
open frame; break
Context example:
the break in the eighth frame cost him the match
Hypernyms ("break" is a kind of...):
score (the act of scoring in a game or sport)
Meaning:
An escape from jail
Classified under:
Nouns denoting acts or actions
Synonyms:
prisonbreak; breakout; gaolbreak; jailbreak; prison-breaking; break
Context example:
the breakout was carefully planned
Hypernyms ("break" is a kind of...):
escape; flight (the act of escaping physically)
• BREAK (verb)
Meaning:
Terminate
Classified under:
Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.
Synonyms:
break; interrupt
Context examples:
She interrupted her pregnancy / break a lucky streak / break the cycle of poverty
Hypernyms (to "break" is one way to...):
end; terminate (bring to an end or halt)
Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "break"):
freeze; suspend (stop a process or a habit by imposing a freeze on it)
break off; break short; cut short (interrupt before its natural or planned end)
hold on; stop (stop and wait, as if awaiting further instructions or developments)
Sentence frames:
Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something
Meaning:
Become separated into pieces or fragments
Classified under:
Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.
Synonyms:
come apart; break; fall apart; split up; separate
Context examples:
The figurine broke / The freshly baked loaf fell apart
Hypernyms (to "break" is one way to...):
change integrity (change in physical make-up)
Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "break"):
crush (become injured, broken, or distorted by pressure)
break up; fragment; fragmentise; fragmentize (break or cause to break into pieces)
crack; snap (break suddenly and abruptly, as under tension)
ladder; run (come unraveled or undone as if by snagging)
smash (break suddenly into pieces, as from a violent blow)
burst; bust (break open or apart suddenly and forcefully)
puncture (be pierced or punctured)
break open; burst; split (break open or apart suddenly)
Sentence frame:
Something ----s
Sentence examples:
The wooden sticks break
These glasses break easily
Also:
break up (separate (substances) into constituent elements or parts)
Meaning:
Destroy the integrity of; usually by force; cause to separate into pieces or fragments
Classified under:
Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.
Context examples:
He broke the glass plate / She broke the match
Hypernyms (to "break" is one way to...):
divide; separate (make a division or separation)
Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "break"):
dash; smash (break into pieces, as by striking or knocking over)
break in (break so as to call inward)
fracture (break into pieces)
shatter (break into many pieces)
Sentence frames:
Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something
Sentence example:
The girls break the wooden sticks
Meaning:
Render inoperable or ineffective
Classified under:
Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.
Context example:
You broke the alarm clock when you took it apart!
Hypernyms (to "break" is one way to...):
damage (inflict damage upon)
Sentence frames:
Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something
Meaning:
Ruin completely
Classified under:
Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging
Synonyms:
bust; break
Context example:
He busted my radio!
Hypernyms (to "break" is one way to...):
destroy; ruin (destroy completely; damage irreparably)
Cause:
break; bust; fall apart; wear; wear out (go to pieces)
Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "break"):
break down (cause to fall or collapse)
Sentence frames:
Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something
Antonym:
repair (restore by replacing a part or putting together what is torn or broken)
Also:
break up (take apart into its constituent pieces)
break up (set or keep apart)
break off (break a small piece off from)
break down (make a mathematical, chemical, or grammatical analysis of; break down into components or essential features)
break apart (take apart into its constituent pieces)
Meaning:
Act in disregard of laws, rules, contracts, or promises
Classified under:
Verbs of political and social activities and events
Synonyms:
breach; transgress; infract; violate; offend; go against; break
Context examples:
offend all laws of humanity / violate the basic laws or human civilization / break a law / break a promise
Hypernyms (to "break" is one way to...):
disrespect (show a lack of respect for)
Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "break"):
sin; transgress; trespass (commit a sin; violate a law of God or a moral law)
blunder; boob; goof; sin (commit a faux pas or a fault or make a serious mistake)
conflict; contravene; infringe; run afoul (go against, as of rules and laws)
trespass (break the law)
intrude; trespass (enter unlawfully on someone's property)
Sentence frame:
Somebody ----s something
Antonym:
keep (conform one's action or practice to)
Meaning:
Move away or escape suddenly
Classified under:
Verbs of walking, flying, swimming
Synonyms:
break away; break out; break
Context examples:
The horses broke from the stable / Three inmates broke jail / Nobody can break out--this prison is high security
Hypernyms (to "break" is one way to...):
break loose; escape; get away (run away from confinement)
Sentence frames:
Somebody ----s
Something is ----ing PP
Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s PP
Meaning:
Scatter or part
Classified under:
Verbs of walking, flying, swimming
Context example:
The clouds broke after the heavy downpour
Hypernyms (to "break" is one way to...):
disperse; dissipate; scatter; spread out (move away from each other)
Sentence frame:
Something ----s
Meaning:
Force out or release suddenly and often violently something pent up
Classified under:
Verbs of feeling
Synonyms:
burst; erupt; break
Context examples:
break into tears / erupt in anger
Hypernyms (to "break" is one way to...):
express emotion; express feelings (give verbal or other expression to one's feelings)
Sentence frame:
Somebody ----s PP
Meaning:
Prevent completion
Classified under:
Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.
Synonyms:
break off; discontinue; stop; break
Context examples:
stop the project / break off the negotiations
Hypernyms (to "break" is one way to...):
end; terminate (bring to an end or halt)
Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "break"):
fracture (become fractured)
bog; bog down (get stuck while doing something)
break up; cut off; disrupt; interrupt (make a break in)
Sentence frames:
Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something
Meaning:
Enter someone's property in an unauthorized manner, usually with the intent to steal or commit a violent act
Classified under:
Verbs of political and social activities and events
Synonyms:
break in; break
Context examples:
Someone broke in while I was on vacation / They broke into my car and stole my radio!
Hypernyms (to "break" is one way to...):
intrude; trespass (enter unlawfully on someone's property)
Sentence frames:
Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s PP
Meaning:
Make submissive, obedient, or useful
Classified under:
Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.
Synonyms:
break in; break
Context examples:
The horse was tough to break / I broke in the new intern
Hypernyms (to "break" is one way to...):
domesticate; domesticise; domesticize; reclaim; tame (overcome the wildness of; make docile and tractable)
Cause:
break (be broken in)
Sentence frames:
Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody
Meaning:
Fail to agree with; be in violation of; as of rules or patterns
Classified under:
Verbs of being, having, spatial relations
Synonyms:
violate; go against; break
Context example:
This sentence violates the rules of syntax
Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "break"):
fly in the face of; fly in the teeth of (go against)
Sentence frames:
Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something
Meaning:
Surpass in excellence
Classified under:
Verbs of fighting, athletic activities
Synonyms:
better; break
Context examples:
She bettered her own record / break a record
Hypernyms (to "break" is one way to...):
exceed; outdo; outgo; outmatch; outperform; outstrip; surmount; surpass (be or do something to a greater degree)
Sentence frame:
Somebody ----s something
Meaning:
Make known to the public information that was previously known only to a few people or that was meant to be kept a secret
Classified under:
Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing
Synonyms:
let on; divulge; disclose; unwrap; expose; give away; reveal; let out; impart; discover; bring out; break
Context examples:
The auction house would not disclose the price at which the van Gogh had sold / The actress won't reveal how old she is / bring out the truth / he broke the news to her / unwrap the evidence in the murder case
Hypernyms (to "break" is one way to...):
tell (let something be known)
Cause:
break; get around; get out (be released or become known; of news)
Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "break"):
confide (reveal in private; tell confidentially)
leak (tell anonymously)
babble; babble out; blab; blab out; let the cat out of the bag; peach; sing; spill the beans; talk; tattle (divulge confidential information or secrets)
reveal (disclose directly or through prophets)
betray; bewray (reveal unintentionally)
spring (produce or disclose suddenly or unexpectedly)
come out; come out of the closet; out (to state openly and publicly one's homosexuality)
out (reveal (something) about somebody's identity or lifestyle)
blow (cause to be revealed and jeopardized)
muckrake (explore and expose misconduct and scandals concerning public figures)
blackwash (bring (information) out of concealment)
Sentence frames:
Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something
Somebody ----s something to somebody
Somebody ----s that CLAUSE
Meaning:
Come into being
Classified under:
Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.
Context examples:
light broke over the horizon / Voices broke in the air
Hypernyms (to "break" is one way to...):
become; get; go (enter or assume a certain state or condition)
Sentence frame:
Something ----s
Meaning:
Stop operating or functioning
Classified under:
Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.
Synonyms:
go bad; conk out; give way; give out; fail; die; break down; break; go
Context examples:
The engine finally went / The car died on the road / The bus we travelled in broke down on the way to town / The coffee maker broke / The engine failed on the way to town / her eyesight went after the accident
Hypernyms (to "break" is one way to...):
change (undergo a change; become different in essence; losing one's or its original nature)
Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "break"):
malfunction; misfunction (fail to function or function improperly)
misfire (fail to fire or detonate)
blow; blow out; burn out (melt, break, or become otherwise unusable)
crash; go down (stop operating)
Sentence frame:
Something ----s
Sentence example:
These cars won't break
Meaning:
Interrupt a continued activity
Classified under:
Verbs of political and social activities and events
Synonyms:
break away; break
Context example:
She had broken with the traditional patterns
Hypernyms (to "break" is one way to...):
break; break up; part; separate; split; split up (discontinue an association or relation; go different ways)
Sentence frames:
Something is ----ing PP
Somebody ----s PP
Meaning:
Make a rupture in the ranks of the enemy or one's own by quitting or fleeing
Classified under:
Verbs of walking, flying, swimming
Context example:
The ranks broke
Hypernyms (to "break" is one way to...):
flee; fly; take flight (run away quickly)
Domain category:
armed forces; armed services; military; military machine; war machine (the military forces of a nation)
Sentence frames:
Something ----s
Somebody ----s
Meaning:
Curl over and fall apart in surf or foam, of waves
Classified under:
Verbs of walking, flying, swimming
Context example:
The surf broke
Hypernyms (to "break" is one way to...):
break; cave in; collapse; fall in; founder; give; give way (break down, literally or metaphorically)
Sentence frame:
Something ----s
Meaning:
Lessen in force or effect
Classified under:
Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.
Synonyms:
soften; damp; weaken; dampen; break
Context examples:
soften a shock / break a fall
Hypernyms (to "break" is one way to...):
blunt; deaden (make less lively, intense, or vigorous; impair in vigor, force, activity, or sensation)
Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "break"):
deafen (make soundproof)
damp; dampen; deaden (make vague or obscure or make (an image) less visible)
Sentence frames:
Something ----s
Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something
Meaning:
Be broken in
Classified under:
Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.
Context example:
If the new teacher won't break, we'll add some stress
Hypernyms (to "break" is one way to...):
change (undergo a change; become different in essence; losing one's or its original nature)
Sentence frame:
Somebody ----s
Meaning:
Come to an end
Classified under:
Verbs of being, having, spatial relations
Context example:
The heat wave finally broke yesterday
Hypernyms (to "break" is one way to...):
cease; end; finish; stop; terminate (have an end, in a temporal, spatial, or quantitative sense; either spatial or metaphorical)
Sentence frame:
Something ----s
Meaning:
Vary or interrupt a uniformity or continuity
Classified under:
Verbs of being, having, spatial relations
Context example:
The flat plain was broken by tall mesas
Hypernyms (to "break" is one way to...):
alter; change; vary (make or become different in some particular way, without permanently losing one's or its former characteristics or essence)
Sentence frame:
Something ----s something
Meaning:
Cause to give up a habit
Classified under:
Verbs of being, having, spatial relations
Context example:
She finally broke herself of smoking cigarettes
Cause:
break (give up)
Sentence frame:
Somebody ----s somebody
Meaning:
Give up
Classified under:
Verbs of being, having, spatial relations
Context example:
break cigarette smoking
Hypernyms (to "break" is one way to...):
cease; discontinue; give up; lay off; quit; stop (put an end to a state or an activity)
Sentence frame:
Somebody ----s something
Meaning:
Come forth or begin from a state of latency
Classified under:
Verbs of being, having, spatial relations
Context example:
The first winter storm broke over New York
Hypernyms (to "break" is one way to...):
come forth; emerge (happen or occur as a result of something)
Sentence frame:
Something is ----ing PP
Meaning:
Happen or take place
Classified under:
Verbs of political and social activities and events
Context example:
Things have been breaking pretty well for us in the past few months
Hypernyms (to "break" is one way to...):
come about; fall out; go on; hap; happen; occur; pass; pass off; take place (come to pass)
Domain usage:
colloquialism (a colloquial expression; characteristic of spoken or written communication that seeks to imitate informal speech)
Sentence frame:
Something ----s
Meaning:
Cause the failure or ruin of
Classified under:
Verbs of political and social activities and events
Context examples:
His peccadilloes finally broke his marriage / This play will either make or break the playwright
Hypernyms (to "break" is one way to...):
ruin (destroy or cause to fail)
Sentence frames:
Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something
Antonym:
make (assure the success of)
Meaning:
Invalidate by judicial action
Classified under:
Verbs of political and social activities and events
Context example:
The will was broken
Hypernyms (to "break" is one way to...):
annul; avoid; invalidate; nullify; quash; void (declare invalid)
Sentence frame:
Somebody ----s something
Meaning:
Discontinue an association or relation; go different ways
Classified under:
Verbs of political and social activities and events
Synonyms:
break up; part; split up; split; separate; break
Context examples:
The business partners broke over a tax question / The couple separated after 25 years of marriage / My friend and I split up
Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "break"):
break; break away (interrupt a continued activity)
break away; secede; splinter (withdraw from an organization or communion)
divorce; split up (get a divorce; formally terminate a marriage)
break with (end a relationship)
disassociate; disjoint; dissociate; disunite; divorce (part; cease or break association with)
break apart; disunify (break up or separate)
give the axe; give the bounce; give the gate (terminate a relationship abruptly)
Sentence frame:
Somebody ----s
Meaning:
Assign to a lower position; reduce in rank
Classified under:
Verbs of political and social activities and events
Synonyms:
kick downstairs; demote; relegate; bump; break
Context examples:
She was demoted because she always speaks up / He was broken down to Sergeant
Hypernyms (to "break" is one way to...):
assign; delegate; depute; designate (give an assignment to (a person) to a post, or assign a task to (a person))
Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "break"):
reduce (bring to humbler or weaker state or condition)
sideline (remove from the center of activity or attention; place into an inferior position)
Sentence frames:
Somebody ----s somebody
Somebody ----s something PP
Meaning:
Reduce to bankruptcy
Classified under:
Verbs of buying, selling, owning
Synonyms:
bankrupt; ruin; smash; break
Context examples:
My daughter's fancy wedding is going to break me! / The slump in the financial markets smashed him
Hypernyms (to "break" is one way to...):
impoverish (make poor)
Sentence frames:
Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s somebody
Meaning:
Change directions suddenly
Classified under:
Verbs of walking, flying, swimming
Hypernyms (to "break" is one way to...):
change; shift; switch (lay aside, abandon, or leave for another)
Sentence frames:
Something ----s
Somebody ----s
Meaning:
Emerge from the surface of a body of water
Classified under:
Verbs of walking, flying, swimming
Context example:
The whales broke
Hypernyms (to "break" is one way to...):
appear (come into sight or view)
Sentence frame:
Something ----s
Meaning:
Break down, literally or metaphorically
Classified under:
Verbs of walking, flying, swimming
Synonyms:
fall in; collapse; cave in; give way; founder; give; break
Context examples:
The wall collapsed / The business collapsed / The dam broke / The roof collapsed / The wall gave in / The roof finally gave under the weight of the ice
Hypernyms (to "break" is one way to...):
change (undergo a change; become different in essence; losing one's or its original nature)
Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "break"):
go off; implode (burst inward)
buckle; crumple (fold or collapse)
flop (fall loosely)
break (curl over and fall apart in surf or foam, of waves)
sink; slide down; slump (fall or sink heavily)
Sentence frames:
Something ----s
Somebody ----s
Meaning:
Do a break dance
Classified under:
Verbs of walking, flying, swimming
Synonyms:
break-dance; break dance; break
Context example:
Kids were break-dancing at the street corner
Hypernyms (to "break" is one way to...):
dance; trip the light fantastic; trip the light fantastic toe (move in a pattern; usually to musical accompaniment; do or perform a dance)
Sentence frame:
Somebody ----s
Sentence example:
Sam and Sue break
Meaning:
Exchange for smaller units of money
Classified under:
Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging
Context example:
I had to break a $100 bill just to buy the candy
Hypernyms (to "break" is one way to...):
change; commute; convert; exchange (exchange or replace with another, usually of the same kind or category)
Sentence frame:
Somebody ----s something
Meaning:
Destroy the completeness of a set of related items
Classified under:
Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging
Synonyms:
break up; break
Context example:
The book dealer would not break the set
Hypernyms (to "break" is one way to...):
alter; change; modify (cause to change; make different; cause a transformation)
Sentence frame:
Somebody ----s something
Meaning:
Make the opening shot that scatters the balls
Classified under:
Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging
Hypernyms (to "break" is one way to...):
shoot (throw or propel in a specific direction or towards a specific objective)
Domain category:
billiards (any of several games played on rectangular cloth-covered table (with cushioned edges) in which long tapering cue sticks are used to propel ivory (or composition) balls)
Sentence frame:
Somebody ----s
Meaning:
Separate from a clinch, in boxing
Classified under:
Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging
Context example:
The referee broke the boxers
Hypernyms (to "break" is one way to...):
disunite; divide; part; separate (force, take, or pull apart)
Sentence frame:
Somebody ----s somebody
Meaning:
Go to pieces
Classified under:
Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging
Synonyms:
wear out; fall apart; bust; wear; break
Context examples:
The lawn mower finally broke / The gears wore out / The old chair finally fell apart completely
Hypernyms (to "break" is one way to...):
crumble; decay; delapidate (fall into decay or ruin)
Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "break"):
fray; frazzle (wear away by rubbing)
Sentence frame:
Something ----s
Also:
break up (break violently or noisily; smash)
break off; break away (break off (a piece from a whole))
break apart (break violently or noisily; smash)
Meaning:
Break a piece from a whole
Classified under:
Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging
Synonyms:
snap off; break off; break
Context example:
break a branch from a tree
Hypernyms (to "break" is one way to...):
detach (cause to become detached or separated; take off)
Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "break"):
French (snap (bean) lengthwise in preparation for cooking)
Sentence frame:
Somebody ----s something
Meaning:
Become punctured or penetrated
Classified under:
Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging
Context example:
The skin broke
Sentence frame:
Something ----s
Meaning:
Pierce or penetrate
Classified under:
Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging
Context example:
The blade broke her skin
Hypernyms (to "break" is one way to...):
penetrate; perforate (pass into or through, often by overcoming resistance)
Sentence frame:
Something ----s something
Meaning:
Be released or become known; of news
Classified under:
Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing
Synonyms:
get around; get out; break
Context example:
News of her death broke in the morning
Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "break"):
leak; leak out (be leaked)
Sentence frame:
Something ----s
Meaning:
Cease an action temporarily
Classified under:
Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing
Synonyms:
intermit; pause; break
Context examples:
We pause for station identification / let's break for lunch
Hypernyms (to "break" is one way to...):
break up; cut off; disrupt; interrupt (make a break in)
Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "break"):
breathe; catch one's breath; rest; take a breather (take a short break from one's activities in order to relax)
take five (take a break for five minutes)
take ten (take a ten minute break)
Sentence frame:
Somebody ----s
Meaning:
Interrupt the flow of current in
Classified under:
Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing
Context example:
break a circuit
Hypernyms (to "break" is one way to...):
break up; cut off; disrupt; interrupt (make a break in)
Sentence frames:
Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something
Meaning:
Undergo breaking
Classified under:
Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing
Context example:
The simple vowels broke in many Germanic languages
Hypernyms (to "break" is one way to...):
diphthongise; diphthongize (change from a simple vowel to a diphthong)
Sentence frame:
Something ----s
Meaning:
Find a flaw in
Classified under:
Verbs of thinking, judging, analyzing, doubting
Context examples:
break an alibi / break down a proof
Hypernyms (to "break" is one way to...):
destroy; ruin (destroy completely; damage irreparably)
Sentence frames:
Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something
Meaning:
Find the solution or key to
Classified under:
Verbs of thinking, judging, analyzing, doubting
Context example:
break the code
Hypernyms (to "break" is one way to...):
figure out; lick; puzzle out; solve; work; work out (find the solution to (a problem or question) or understand the meaning of)
Sentence frame:
Somebody ----s something
Meaning:
Change suddenly from one tone quality or register to another
Classified under:
Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.
Context example:
Her voice broke to a whisper when she started to talk about her children
Hypernyms (to "break" is one way to...):
change; shift; switch (lay aside, abandon, or leave for another)
Sentence frame:
Something ----s
Meaning:
Happen
Classified under:
Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.
Synonyms:
recrudesce; develop; break
Context examples:
Report the news as it develops / These political movements recrudesce from time to time
Hypernyms (to "break" is one way to...):
come about; fall out; go on; hap; happen; occur; pass; pass off; take place (come to pass)
Sentence frame:
Something ----s
Also:
break out (start abruptly)
break through (penetrate)
Meaning:
Become fractured; break or crack on the surface only
Classified under:
Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.
Synonyms:
crack; check; break
Context example:
The glass cracked when it was heated
Hypernyms (to "break" is one way to...):
change (undergo a change; become different in essence; losing one's or its original nature)
Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "break"):
crack (break partially but keep its integrity)
Sentence frame:
Something ----s
Meaning:
Crack; of the male voice in puberty
Classified under:
Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.
Context example:
his voice is breaking--he should no longer sing in the choir
Hypernyms (to "break" is one way to...):
change state; turn (undergo a transformation or a change of position or action)
Sentence frame:
Something ----s
Meaning:
Fall sharply
Classified under:
Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.
Context example:
stock prices broke
Hypernyms (to "break" is one way to...):
decrease; diminish; fall; lessen (decrease in size, extent, or range)
Sentence frame:
Something ----s
Sentence example:
The stock market is going to break
Meaning:
Fracture a bone of
Classified under:
Verbs of grooming, dressing and bodily care
Synonyms:
fracture; break
Context example:
I broke my foot while playing hockey
Hypernyms (to "break" is one way to...):
injure; wound (cause injuries or bodily harm to)
Sentence frame:
Somebody ----s something
Sentence example:
Did he break his foot?
Meaning:
Diminish or discontinue abruptly
Classified under:
Verbs of grooming, dressing and bodily care
Context example:
The patient's fever broke last night
Hypernyms (to "break" is one way to...):
decrease; diminish; fall; lessen (decrease in size, extent, or range)
Sentence frame:
Something ----s
Meaning:
Weaken or destroy in spirit or body
Classified under:
Verbs of grooming, dressing and bodily care
Context examples:
His resistance was broken / a man broken by the terrible experience of near-death
Hypernyms (to "break" is one way to...):
weaken (lessen the strength of)
Sentence frame:
Something ----s somebody
