Noun: A rest between two periods of work
EX: In our office we have two coffee breaks and one lunch break each day.
EX: I need a break, I have been working 16 hours a day in the last 2 weeks.
Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary
break (verb)transitive verb
1.
a) to separate into parts with suddenness or violence
b) - fracture break an arm
c) - rupture break the skin
d) to cut into and turn over the surface of - break the soil
e) to render inoperable - broke his watch
2.
a) - violate transgress break the law break a promise
b) to invalidate (a will) by action at law
3.
a) archaic to force entry into
b) to burst and force a way through - break the sound barrier break a racial barrier
c) to escape by force from - break jail
d) to make or effect by cutting, forcing, or pressing through - break a trail through the woods
4.
to disrupt the order or compactness of - break formation
5.
to make ineffective as a binding force - break the spell
6.
a) to defeat utterly and end as an effective force - destroy used starvation to break the enemy
b) to crush the spirit of - brutal methods broke the prisoner
c) to make tractable or submissive as
(1) to train (an animal) to adjust to the service or convenience of humans - a halter-broke horse
(2) - inure accustom
d) to exhaust in health, strength, or capacity - broken by his struggle for power
7.
a) to stop or bring to an end suddenly - halt break a deadlock
b) - interrupt suspend break the silence with a cry
c) to open and bring about suspension of operation - break an electric circuit
d) to destroy unity or completeness of - break a dining room set by buying a chair
e) to change the appearance of uniformity of - a dormer breaks the level roof
f) to split the surface of - fish breaking water
g) to cause to discontinue a habit - tried to break him of smoking
8.
a) to make known - tell break the bad news gently
b) to bring to attention or prominence initially - radio stations breaking new musicians break a news story
9.
a) to ruin financially - break the bank
b) to reduce in rank - broken from sergeant to private
10.
a) to split into smaller units, parts, or processes - divide
b) (1) to give or get the equivalent of (a bill) in smaller denominations
(2) to use as the denomination in paying a bill - didn't want to break a $20 bill often used with into, up, or down
11.
a) to check the speed, force, or intensity of - the bushes will break his fall without breaking her stride
b) to cause failure and discontinuance of (a strike) by measures outside bargaining processes
12.
to cause a sudden significant decrease in the price, value, or volume of - news likely to break the market sharply
13.
a) - exceed surpass break the record
b) to score less than (a specified total) - a golfer trying to break 90
c) to win against (an opponent's service) in tennis
d) to make (a run) in football by getting past defenders - broke a 20-yard run
14.
to open the action of (a breechloader)
15.
a) to find an explanation or solution for - solve the detective broke the case
b) to discover the essentials of (a code or cipher system)
16.
to demonstrate the falsity of - break an alibi
17.
to ruin the prospects of - could make or break her career
18.
intransitive verb
to produce visibly - barely breaks a sweat
1.
a) to escape with sudden forceful effort - the attacker broke from the throng
b) to come into being by or as if by bursting forth - day was breaking
c) to effect a penetration - break through security lines
d) to emerge through the surface of the water
e) to start abruptly - when the storm broke
f) to become known or published - when the news broke
g) to make a sudden dash - break for cover
h) to separate after a clinch in boxing
i) to achieve initial success in usually a sudden or striking way - her song broke nationally
j) to begin a race - the horse broke poorly
2.
a) to come apart or split into pieces - fragment shatter the cup broke when it fell
b) to open spontaneously or by pressure from within - the blister broke
c) of a wave to curl over and fall apart in surf or foam
3.
to interrupt one's activity or occupation for a brief period - break for lunch
4.
to alter sharply in tone, pitch, or intensity - a voice breaking with emotion
5.
to become fair - clear when the weather breaks
6.
to make the opening shot of a game of pool
7.
to end a relationship, connection, or agreement - usually used with with or from
8.
to give way in disorderly retreat
9.
a) to swerve suddenly
b) to curve from a straight path - a pitch that breaks away from the batter a putt that breaks left
10.
a) to fail in health, strength, vitality, resolve, or control - may break under questioning
b) to become inoperative because of damage, wear, or strain - the pump broke
11.
to fail to keep a prescribed gait - used of a horse
12.
to undergo a sudden significant decrease in price, value, or volume - transportation stocks may break sharply
13.
- happen develop for the team to succeed, everything has to break right
14.
to win against an opponent's service in tennis
15.
a) to divide into classes, categories, or types - usually used with into the rose is broken into several varieties
b) to fold, bend, lift, or come apart at a seam, groove, or joint
c) of cream to separate during churning into liquid and fat
1.
a) an act or action of - breaking
b) the opening shot in a game of pool or billiards
2.
a) a condition produced by or as if by breaking - gap a break in the clouds
b) a gap in an otherwise continuous electric circuit
3.
the action or act of breaking in, out, or forth - at break of day a jail break
4.
a place or situation at which a break occurs as
a) the place at which a word is divided especially at the end of a line of print or writing
b) the point or location at which waves break for surfing
5.
an interruption in continuity as - a break in the weather
a) a notable change of subject matter, attitude, or treatment
b) (1) an abrupt, significant, or noteworthy change or interruption in a continuous process, trend, or surface
(2) a respite from work, school, or duty - coffee break spring break
(3) relief from annoyance - often used to express exasperation or irritation in phrases like give me a break
(4) a planned interruption in a radio or television program - a break for the commercial
c) deviation of a pitched baseball from a straight line
d) mining - fault dislocation
e) failure of a horse to maintain the prescribed gait
f) an abrupt change in musical or vocal pitch or quality
g) the action or an instance of breaking service in tennis
h) a usually solo instrumental passage in jazz, folk, or popular music
6.
a) - dash rush a base runner making a break for home
b) - fast break
7.
a sudden and abrupt decline of prices or values
8.
a) the start of a race
b) the act of separating after a clinch in boxing
9.
a) a stroke of luck and especially of good luck - a bad break got the breaks
b) a favorable or opportune situation - chance waiting for a big break in show business
c) favorable consideration or treatment - a tax break a break on the price
10.
a) a rupture in previously agreeable relations - a break between the two countries
b) an abrupt split or difference with something previously adhered to or followed - a sharp break with tradition
11.
- breakdown suffered a mental break
