break-in

[ breyk-in ]
/ ˈbreɪkˌɪn /

noun

an illegal entry into a home, car, office, etc.

Origin of break-in

First recorded in 1855–60; noun use of verb phrase break in

Definition for break in (2 of 2)

Origin of break

before 900; Middle English breken, Old English brecan; cognate with Dutch breken, German brechen, Gothic brikan; akin to Latin frangere; see fragile

synonym study for break

1. 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.

OTHER WORDS FROM break

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH break

brake break

British Dictionary definitions for break in (1 of 2)

break in

verb (adverb)

(sometimes foll by on) to interrupt
(intr) to enter a house, etc, illegally, esp by force
(tr) to accustom (a person or animal) to normal duties or practice
(tr) to use or wear (shoes, new equipment, etc) until comfortable or running smoothly
(tr) Australian and NZ to bring (new land) under cultivation

noun break-in

  1. the illegal entering of a building, esp by thieves
  2. (as modifier)the break-in plans

British Dictionary definitions for break in (2 of 2)

break
/ (breɪk) /

verb breaks, breaking, broke or broken

noun

interjection

boxing wrestling a command by a referee for two opponents to separate

Word Origin for break

Old English brecan; related to Old Frisian breka, Gothic brikan, Old High German brehhan, Latin frangere Sanskrit bhráj bursting forth

Idioms and Phrases with break in (1 of 2)

break in

1

Enter by force, as in The thieves broke in through the back door. [Mid-1500s] Also see break into.

2

Also, break in on. Interrupt or disturb something unexpectedly, as in His assistant broke in with the bad news just as we were ready to sign the agreement, or He broke in on our private talks. [Mid-1600s]

3

Train or instruct someone in a new job or enterprise, as in Every semester she had to break in a new teaching assistant. [Late 1700s]

4

Loosen or soften with use, as in It takes a while to break in a pair of new shoes.

Idioms and Phrases with break in (2 of 2)

break