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
Words nearby 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 breakBritish 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
- the illegal entering of a building, esp by thieves
- (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
See also
breakaway,
break down,
break even,
break in,
break into,
break off,
break out,
break through,
break up,
break with
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
Enter by force, as in The thieves broke in through the back door. [Mid-1500s] Also see break into.
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]
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]
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