Idioms for break

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 into (1 of 2)

break into

verb (intr, preposition)

to enter (a house, etc) illegally, esp by force
to change abruptly from a slower to a faster speed the horse broke into a gallop
to consume (supplies held in reserve) at the end of the exercise the soldiers had to break into their iron rations

British Dictionary definitions for break into (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 into (1 of 2)

break into

1

Make a forcible entry into, as in The alarm went off as soon as they tried to break into the house. [1300s] Also see break in, def. 1.

2

Interrupt, as in I couldn't help but break into your conversation. [Mid-1600s]

3

Suddenly begin some activity, as in Without warning she broke into tears. Also see under burst into.

4

Enter or be admitted to an occupation or profession, as in Without connections it is virtually impossible to break into acting. [Late 1800s]

Idioms and Phrases with break into (2 of 2)

break