break

1. To separate into two or more pieces, to fracture or crack, by a process that cannot easily be reversed for reassembly. (intransitive, transitive) · If the vase falls to the floor, it might break.· In order to tend to the accident victim, he will break the window of the car.
2. To crack or fracture (bone) under a physical strain. (intransitive, transitive) · His ribs broke under the weight of the rocks piled on his chest.· He slipped on the ice and broke his leg.
3. To make the first shot; to scatter the balls from the initial neat arrangement. (intransitive, transitive) · Is it your or my turn to break?
4. To divide (something, often money) into smaller units. (figuratively, intransitive, transitive) · Can you break a hundred-dollar bill for me?· The wholesaler broke the container loads into palettes and boxes for local retailers.
5. To use a high-value denomination of currency, thus necessitating being given change in smaller denominations. (figuratively, intransitive, transitive) · I don't want to break my hundred dollar bill.
6. To change the orderliness or compactness of an arrangement. (intransitive, transitive) · The soldier broke formation.
7. To disrupt the surface of and turn over the body of a substance. (intransitive, transitive) · You have to break the soil with the ho.
8. To cause (a person or animal) to lose spirit or will; to crush the spirits of. (transitive) · Her child’s death broke Angela.· Interrogators have used many forms of torture to break prisoners of war.

Plural break · He/she/it breaks · Past broke · Past participle broken · -ing form breaking