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verb (used with object)
1.
to smash, split, or divide into parts violently; reduce to pieces or fragments: He broke a vase.
2.
to infringe, ignore, or act contrary to (a law, rule, promise, etc.): She broke her promise.
3.
to dissolve or annul (often followed by off): to break off friendly relations with another country.
4.
to fracture a bone of (some part of the body): He broke his leg.
5.
EXPANDto lacerate; wound: to break the skin.
6.
to destroy or interrupt the regularity, uniformity, continuity, or arrangement of; interrupt: The bleating of a foghorn broke the silence. The troops broke formation.
7.
to put an end to; overcome; stop: His touchdown run broke the tie. She found it hard to break the cigarette habit.
8.
to discover the system, key, method, etc., for decoding or deciphering (a cryptogram), especially by the methods of cryptanalysis.
9.
to remove a part from (a set or collection): She had to break the set to sell me the two red ones I wanted.
10.
to exchange for or divide into smaller units or components: She broke a dollar bill into change. The prism broke the light into all the colors of the rainbow.
11.
to make a way through; penetrate: The stone broke the surface of the water.
12.
Law.
a.
to open or force one's way into (a dwelling, store, etc.).
b.
to contest (a will) successfully by judicial action.
13.
to make one's way out of, especially by force: to break jail.
14.
to better (a given score or record): He never broke 200 in bowling or 80 in golf.
15.
to disclose or divulge personally in speech or writing: He broke the good news to her at dinner.
16.
to solve: The police needed only a week to break that case.
17.
to rupture (a blood vessel): She almost broke a blood vessel from laughing so hard.
18.
to disable or destroy by or as if by shattering or crushing: to break a watch.
19.
to cause (a blister, boil, or the like) to burst, as by puncturing: She broke the blister with a needle.
20.
to ruin financially; make bankrupt: They threatened to break him if he didn't stop discounting their products.
21.
to overcome or wear down the spirit, strength, or resistance of; to cause to yield, especially under pressure, torture, or the like: They broke him by the threat of blackmail.
22.
to dismiss or reduce in rank.
23.
to impair or weaken the power, effect, or intensity of: His arm broke the blow.
24.
to train to obedience; tame: to break a horse.
25.
to train away from a habit or practice (usually followed by of).
26.
Electricity. to render (a circuit) incomplete; stop the flow of (a current).
27.
Journalism.
a.
to release (a story) for publication or airing on radio or television: They will break the story tomorrow.
b.
to continue (a story or article) on another page, especially when the page is not the following one.
28.
Pool. to cause (racked billiard balls) to scatter by striking with the cue ball.
29.
Sports.
a.
(of a pitcher, bowler, etc.) to hurl (a ball) in such a way as to cause it to change direction after leaving the hand: He broke a curve over the plate for a strike.
b.
(in tennis and other racket games) to score frequently or win against (an opponent's serve).
30.
Nautical. to unfurl (a flag) suddenly by an easily released knot.
31.
to prove the falsity or show the lack of logic of: The FBI broke his alibi by proving he knew how to shoot a pistol.
32.
to begin or initiate (a plan or campaign), especially with much publicity: They were going to break the sales campaign with a parade in April.
33.
COLLAPSEto open the breech or action of (a shotgun, rifle, or revolver), as by snapping open the hinge between the barrel and the butt.
verb (used without object)
34.
to shatter, burst, or become broken; separate into parts or fragments, especially suddenly and violently: The glass broke on the floor.
35.
to become suddenly discontinuous or interrupted; stop abruptly: She pulled too hard and the string broke.
36.
to become detached, separated, or disassociated (usually followed by away, off, or from): The knob broke off in his hand.
37.
to become inoperative or to malfunction, as through wear or damage: The television set broke this afternoon.
38.
EXPANDto begin suddenly or violently or change abruptly into something else: War broke over Europe.
39.
to begin uttering a sound or series of sounds or to be uttered suddenly: She broke into song. When they entered, a cheer broke from the audience.
40.
to express or start to express an emotion or mood: His face broke into a smile.
41.
to free oneself or escape suddenly, as from restraint or dependency (often followed by away): He broke away from the arresting officer. She finally broke away from her parents and got an apartment of her own.
42.
43.
to force a way (usually followed by in, into, or through): The hunters broke through the underbrush.
44.
to burst or rupture: A blood vessel broke in his nose. The blister broke when he pricked it.
45.
to interrupt or halt an activity (usually followed by in, into, forth, or from): Don't break in on the conversation. Let's break for lunch.
46.
to appear or arrive suddenly (usually followed by in, into, or out): A deer broke into the clearing. A rash broke out on her arm.
47.
to dawn: The day broke hot and sultry.
48.
to begin violently and suddenly: The storm broke.
49.
(of a storm, foul weather, etc.) to cease: The weather broke after a week, and we were able to sail for home.
50.
to part the surface of water, as a jumping fish or surfacing submarine.
51.
to give way or fail, as health, strength, or spirit; collapse: After years of hardship and worry, his health broke.
52.
to yield or submit to pressure, torture, or the like: He broke under questioning.
53.
(of the heart) to be overwhelmed with sorrow: Her heart broke when he told her that he no longer loved her.
54.
(of the voice or a musical instrument) to change harshly from one register or pitch to another: After his voice broke, he could no longer sing soprano parts.
55.
(of the voice) to cease, waver, or change tone abruptly, especially from emotional strain: His voice broke when he mentioned her name.
56.
(of value or prices) to drop sharply and considerably.
57.
to disperse or collapse by colliding with something: The waves broke on the shore.
58.
to break dance.
59.
(of a horse in a harness race) to fail to keep to a trot or pace, as by starting to gallop.
60.
Botany. to mutate; sport.
61.
Linguistics. to undergo breaking.
62.
Billiards, Pool. to make a break; take the first turn in a game.
63.
Sports. (of a pitched or bowled ball) to change direction: The ball broke over the plate.
64.
Horse Racing, Track. to leave the starting point: The horses broke fast from the gate.
65.
Boxing. to step back or separate from a clinch: The fighters fell into a clinch and broke on the referee's order.
66.
to take place; occur.
67.
Journalism. to become known, published, or aired: The story broke in the morning papers.
68.
COLLAPSEHorticulture. to produce flowers or leaves.
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Break ground
is always a great word to know.
So is ninnyhammer. Does it mean:
| a printed punctuation mark (‽), available only in some typefaces, designed to combine the question mark (?) and the exclamation point (!), indicating a mixture of query and interjection, as after a rhetorical question. |
| a fool or simpleton; ninny. |
noun
Verb phrases69.
an act or instance of breaking; disruption or separation of parts; fracture; rupture: There was a break in the window.
70.
an opening made by breaking; gap: The break in the wall had not been repaired.
71.
a rush away from a place; an attempt to escape: a break for freedom.
72.
a sudden dash or rush, as toward something: When the rain lessened, I made a break for home.
73.
EXPANDa suspension of or sudden rupture in friendly relations.
74.
an interruption of continuity; departure from or rupture with: Abstract painters made a break with the traditions of the past.
75.
an abrupt or marked change, as in sound or direction, or a brief pause: They noticed a curious break in his voice.
76.
Informal.
a.
an opportunity or stroke of fortune, especially a lucky one.
b.
a chance to improve one's lot, especially one unlooked for or undeserved.
77.
the breaks, Informal. the way things happen; fate: Sorry to hear about your bad luck, but I guess those are the breaks.
78.
a brief rest, as from work: The actors took a ten-minute break from rehearsal.
79.
Radio, Television. a brief, scheduled interruption of a program or broadcasting period for the announcement of advertising or station identification.
80.
Prosody. a pause or caesura.
81.
Jazz. a solo passage, usually of from 2 to 12 bars, during which the rest of the instruments are silent.
82.
Music. the point in the scale where the quality of voice of one register changes to that of another, as from chest to head.
84.
a sharp and considerable drop in the prices of stock issues.
85.
Electricity. an opening or discontinuity in a circuit.
86.
87.
the place, after a letter, where a word is or may be divided at the end of a line.
88.
a collapse of health, strength, or spirit; breakdown.
89.
Informal. an indiscreet or awkward remark or action; social blunder; faux pas.
90.
Billiards, Pool. a series of successful strokes; run.
91.
Pool. the opening play, in which the cue ball is shot to scatter the balls.
92.
Sports. a change in direction of a pitched or bowled ball.
93.
Horse Racing, Track. the start of a race.
94.
(in harness racing) an act or instance of a horse's changing from a trot or pace into a gallop or other step.
95.
Bowling. a failure to knock down all ten pins in a single frame.
96.
Boxing. an act or instance of stepping back or separating from a clinch: a clean break.
97.
any of several stages in the grinding of grain in which the bran is separated from the kernel.
98.
Botany. a sport.
99.
Journalism. the point at the bottom of a column where a printed story is carried over to another column or page.
100.
Nautical. the place at which a superstructure, deckhouse, or the like, rises from the main deck of a vessel.
101.
breaks, Physical Geography. an area dissected by small ravines and gullies.
102.
COLLAPSEMining. a fault or offset, as in a vein or bed of ore.
103.
break away,
a.
to leave or escape, especially suddenly or hurriedly.
b.
to sever connections or allegiance, as to tradition or a political group.
c.
to start prematurely: The horse broke away from the starting gate.
104.
break back, Tennis. to win a game served by an opponent immediately after the opponent has done so against one's own serve.
105.
break down,
a.
to become ineffective.
b.
to lose control; weaken: He broke down and wept at the sad news.
c.
to have a physical or mental collapse.
d.
to cease to function: The car broke down.
e.
to itemize: to break down a hotel bill into daily charges.
f.
Chemistry. to separate (a compound) into its constituent molecules.
g.
Electricity. (of an insulator) to fail, as when subjected to excessively high voltage, permitting a current to pass.
h.
to decompose.
i.
to analyze.
j.
to classify.
k.
to separate into constituent parts: to break down a beef carcass into basic cuts.
106.
break in,
a.
to enter by force or craft: Someone broke in and made off with all the furniture.
b.
to train or instruct; initiate: The boss is breaking in a new assistant.
c.
to begin to wear or use in order to make comfortable: These shoes haven't been broken in.
d.
to interrupt: He broke in with a ridiculous objection.
e.
to run (new machinery) initially under reduced load and speed, until any stiffness of motion has departed and all parts are ready to operate under normal service conditions; run in; wear in.
107.
EXPANDbreak in on/upon, to enter with force upon or accidentally interrupt; intrude upon: The visitor opened the wrong door and broke in on a private conference.
108.
break into,
a.
to interpose; interrupt: He broke into the conversation at a crucial moment.
b.
to begin some activity.
c.
to be admitted into; enter, as a business or profession: It is difficult to break into the theater.
d.
to enter by force: They broke into the store and stole the safe.
109.
break off,
a.
to sever by breaking.
b.
to stop suddenly; discontinue: to break off a conversation; to break off relations with one's neighbors.
110.
break out,
a.
to begin abruptly; arise: An epidemic broke out.
b.
Pathology. (of certain diseases) to appear in eruptions.
c.
(of a person) to manifest a skin eruption.
d.
to prepare for use: to break out the parachutes.
e.
to take out of (storage, concealment, etc.) for consumption: to break out one's best wine.
f.
Nautical. to dislodge (the anchor) from the bottom.
g.
to escape; flee: He spent three years in prison before he broke out.
h.
to separate into categories or list specific items: to break out gift ideas according to price range; The report breaks out quarterly profits and losses.
111.
break up,
a.
to separate; scatter.
b.
to put an end to; discontinue.
c.
to divide or become divided into pieces.
d.
to dissolve.
e.
to disrupt; upset: Television commercials during a dramatic presentation break up the continuity of effect.
f.
(of a personal relationship) to end: to break up a friendship; Their marriage broke up last year.
g.
to end a personal relationship: Bob and Mary broke up last month.
h.
to be or cause to be overcome with laughter: The comedian told several jokes that broke up the audience.
112.
COLLAPSEbreak with,
a.
to sever relations with; separate from: to break with one's family.
b.
to depart from; repudiate: to break with tradition.
113.
break bulk, Nautical. to remove a cargo wholly or in part.
114.
break camp, to pack up tents and equipment and resume a journey or march: They broke camp at dawn and proceeded toward the mountains.
115.
break even, to finish a business transaction, period of gambling, series of games, etc., with no loss or gain: He played poker all night and broke even.
116.
break ground,
a.
to begin construction, especially of a building or group of buildings: to break ground for a new housing development.
b.
Nautical. to free an anchor from the bottom; break out.
117.
EXPANDbreak it down, Australian Slang.
a.
stop it; calm down.
b.
(used as an exclamation of disbelief) that can't be true!
118.
break (someone's) heart. to cause someone great disappointment or sorrow, as to disappoint in love: It breaks my heart to hear you are leaving me.
119.
break service, Tennis. to win a game served by one's opponent.
120.
break sheer, Nautical. (of an anchored vessel) to drift into such a position as to risk fouling the anchor or anchor cable. Compare sheer2 (def. 6).
121.
break step. step (def. 37).
122.
break wind. to expel gas from the stomach and bowels through the anus.
123.
COLLAPSEgive me a break, Informal. (used to express annoyance, disbelief, etc.): He didn't show up again? Oh, give me a break!
Origin:
before 900; Middle English breken, Old English brecan; cognate with Dutch breken, German brechen, Gothic brikan; akin to Latin frangere; see fragile
before 900; Middle English breken, Old English brecan; cognate with Dutch breken, German brechen, Gothic brikan; akin to Latin frangere; see fragile
Related forms
break·a·ble, adjective
break·a·ble·ness, noun
break·a·bly, adverb
break·less, adjective
non·break·a·ble, adjective
EXPANDre·break, verb, -broke, -bro·ken, -break·ing.
un·break·a·ble, adjective
un·break·a·ble·ness, noun
un·break·a·b·ly, adverb
COLLAPSECan be confused: 1. brake, break; 2. break, bust, burst (see synonym note at the current entry; see usage note at bust2).
Synonyms
1. fracture, splinter, shiver. Break, crush, shatter, smash mean to reduce to parts, violently or by force. Break means to divide by means of a blow, a collision, a pull, or the like: to break a chair, a leg, a strap. To crush is to subject to (usually heavy or violent) pressure so as to press out of shape or reduce to shapelessness or to small particles: to crush a beetle. To shatter is to break in such a way as to cause the pieces to fly in many directions: to shatter a light globe. To smash is to break noisily and suddenly into many pieces: to smash a glass. 2. disobey, contravene. 6. disrupt. 14. surpass, beat. 22. demote. 34. fragment, smash. 69. rent, tear, rip, rift, split; breach, fissure, crack. 74. stop, hiatus, lacuna, pause, caesura.
1. fracture, splinter, shiver. Break, crush, shatter, smash mean to reduce to parts, violently or by force. Break means to divide by means of a blow, a collision, a pull, or the like: to break a chair, a leg, a strap. To crush is to subject to (usually heavy or violent) pressure so as to press out of shape or reduce to shapelessness or to small particles: to crush a beetle. To shatter is to break in such a way as to cause the pieces to fly in many directions: to shatter a light globe. To smash is to break noisily and suddenly into many pieces: to smash a glass. 2. disobey, contravene. 6. disrupt. 14. surpass, beat. 22. demote. 34. fragment, smash. 69. rent, tear, rip, rift, split; breach, fissure, crack. 74. stop, hiatus, lacuna, pause, caesura.
Antonyms
1. repair.
1. repair.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
noun
1.
the solid surface of the earth; firm or dry land: to fall to the ground.
2.
earth or soil: stony ground.
3.
land having an indicated character: rising ground.
4.
Often, grounds. a tract of land appropriated to a special use: picnic grounds; a hunting ground.
5.
EXPAND6.
subject for discussion; topic: Sex education is forbidden ground in some school curricula.
7.
rational or factual support for one's position or attitude, as in a debate or argument: on firm ground; on shaky ground.
8.
the main surface or background in painting, decorative work, lace, etc.
9.
Fine Arts.
a.
a coating of some substance serving as a surface for paint, ink, or other media in art: Lead white is a traditional ground for oil paintings.
b.
ground color (def. 2).
10.
(in perception) the background in a visual field, contrasted with the figure.
11.
Also called etching ground. an acid-resistant substance, composed of wax, gum, and resin in varying proportions, applied to the entire surface of an etching plate and through which the design is drawn with an etching needle.
12.
grounds, dregs or sediment: coffee grounds.
13.
grounds, the gardens, lawn, etc., surrounding and belonging to a building.
14.
Electricity. a conducting connection between an electric circuit or equipment and the earth or some other conducting body.
15.
Music. ground bass.
16.
Nautical. the bottom of a body of water.
17.
the earth's solid or liquid surface; land or water.
18.
COLLAPSECarpentry.
a.
a strip of wood to which woodwork can be attached, set flush with the plaster finish of a room.
b.
a strip of wood or length of corner bead used at an opening as a stop for plasterwork.
adjective
19.
situated on or at, or adjacent to, the surface of the earth: a ground attack.
20.
pertaining to the ground.
21.
Military. operating on land: ground forces.
verb (used with object)
22.
to lay or set on the ground.
23.
to place on a foundation; fix firmly; settle or establish; found.
24.
to instruct in elements or first principles: to ground students in science.
25.
to furnish with a ground or background, as on decorative work.
26.
EXPANDto cover (wallpaper) with colors or other materials before printing.
27.
Electricity. to establish a ground for (a circuit, device, etc.).
28.
Nautical. to cause (a vessel) to run aground.
29.
Aeronautics. to restrict (an aircraft or the like) to the ground because of bad weather, the unsatisfactory condition of the aircraft, etc.
30.
to forbid (a pilot) to fly because of bad health, failure to comply with safety regulations, or the like.
31.
Informal. to put out of action or make unable to participate: The quarterback was grounded by a knee injury.
32.
COLLAPSEInformal. to restrict the activities, especially the social activities, of: I can't go to the party—my parents have grounded me until my grades improve.
verb (used without object)
Verb phrase33.
to come to or strike the ground.
34.
35.
Idiomsground out, Baseball. to be put out at first base after hitting a ground ball to the infield.
36.
break ground,
a.
to plow.
b.
to begin excavation for a construction project.
c.
to begin upon or take preparatory measures for any undertaking.
37.
cover ground,
a.
to pass or travel over a certain area.
b.
to make a certain amount of progress in dealing with a piece of work, subject, treatise, or the like: He talked for two hours without covering much ground.
38.
cut the ground from under, to render (an argument, position, person, etc.) ineffective or invalid; refute: It didn't require much effort to cut the ground from under that case.
39.
from the ground up,
a.
gradually from the most elementary level to the highest level: She learned the business from the ground up.
b.
extensively; thoroughly: The professor knew his subject from the ground up.
40.
EXPANDgain ground,
a.
to make progress; advance.
b.
to gain approval or acceptance: The case for air-pollution control is gaining ground throughout the country.
41.
give ground, to yield to force or forceful argument; retreat: The disarmament talks reached an impasse when neither side would give ground on inspection proposals.
42.
hold/stand one's ground, to maintain one's position; be steadfast: The referee stood his ground, though his decision was hotly contested by the crowd.
43.
into the ground, beyond a reasonable or necessary point: You've stated your case, and you needn't run it into the ground.
44.
lose ground,
a.
to retreat or be forced back.
b.
to lose one's advantage; suffer a reverse.
c.
to wane in popularity or acceptance; begin to fail: Our candidate is losing ground in industrial areas.
45.
off the ground, Informal. into action or well under way: The play never got off the ground.
46.
on one's own ground, in an area or situation that one knows well.
47.
on the ground, at the place of interest or importance; actively engaged: Minutes after the bank robbery reporters were on the ground to get the story.
48.
shift ground, to change position in an argument or situation.
49.
suit down to the ground, to be perfectly satisfactory; please greatly: This climate suits me down to the ground.
50.
take the ground, Nautical. to become grounded at low water.
51.
COLLAPSEto ground,
a.
into a den, burrow, shelter, or the like: a fox gone to ground.
b.
into concealment or hiding: Rather than take the witness stand, she went to ground in another country.
Origin:
before 900; (noun) Middle English grownd, grund, Old English grund; cognate with Dutch grond, German Grund; (v.) Middle English grundien, grownden to set on a foundation, establish, derivative of the noun
before 900; (noun) Middle English grownd, grund, Old English grund; cognate with Dutch grond, German Grund; (v.) Middle English grundien, grownden to set on a foundation, establish, derivative of the noun
Related forms
ground·a·ble, adjective
ground·a·bly, adverb
ground·ed·ly, adverb
ground·ed·ness, noun
ground·ward, ground·wards, adverb, adjective
EXPANDun·ground·a·ble, adjective
COLLAPSE
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
Cite This Source
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Link To break ground
Etymonline
Word Origin & History
ground
O.E. grund "foundation, ground, surface of the earth," especially "bottom of the sea" (a sense preserved in run aground), from P.Gmc. *grundus, which seems to have meant "deep place" (cf. O.Fris. grund, Du. grond, Ger. Grund "ground, soil, bottom;" O.N. grunn "a shallow place, grund "field, plain," grunnr
EXPAND"bottom"). No known cognates outside Gmc. Sense of "reason, motive" first attested c.1200; electrical sense is from 1870. Grounds "residue at the bottom of a liquid" (mid-14c.) is perhaps from past tense of grind (q.v.). Meaning "deny privileges" is 1940s, originally a punishment meted out to pilots (in which sense it is attested from 1931). Ground-hog is attested from 1784; Ground Hog Day first recorded 1871, Amer.Eng. Groundwork (c.1550) is originally "the solid base on which a structure is built;" fig. sense is from 1550s. Groundling "theater patron in the pit" is from c.1600, from the beginning emblematic of bad or unsophisticated taste.
break
c.1300, "act of breaking," from break (v.). Sense of "short interval between spells of work (originally between lessons at school) is from 1861. Meaning "stroke of luck" is attested by 1911, probably an image from billiards (where the break that starts the game is attested
from 1865). Meaning "stroke of mercy" is from 1914. Musical sense, "improvised passage, solo" is attested from 1920s in jazz.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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American Heritage
Science Dictionary
ground  (ground) Pronunciation Key
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The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2002. Published by Houghton Mifflin. All rights reserved.
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Copyright © 2002. Published by Houghton Mifflin. All rights reserved.
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Slang Dictionary
break definition
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Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions by Richard A. Spears.Fourth Edition.
Copyright 2007. Published by McGraw Hill.
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Copyright 2007. Published by McGraw Hill.
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American Heritage
Idioms & Phrases
break ground
Also, break new ground.
-
Begin digging into the earth for new construction of some kind. For example, When will they break ground for the town hall? This usage alludes to breaking up the land with a plow. [Early 1700s]
-
Take the first steps for a new venture; advance beyond previous achievements. For example, Jeff is breaking new ground in intellectual property law. [Early 1700s]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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