breakoff
or break-off
[ breyk-awf, ‐of ]
/ ˈbreɪkˌɔf, ‐ˌɒf /
noun
a discontinuation, especially abrupt, as of relations.
the action of breaking off.
Origin of breakoff
First recorded in 1860–65; noun use of verb
break off (in the sense “to stop sudddenly”)
Words nearby breakoff
Definition for break off (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 off (1 of 2)
break off
verb
to sever or detach or be severed or detached
it broke off in my hands; he broke a piece off the bar of chocolate
(adverb)
to end (a relationship, association, etc) or (of a relationship, etc) to be ended
(intr, adverb)
to stop abruptly; halt
he broke off in the middle of his speech
noun breakoff
the act or an instance of breaking off or stopping
British Dictionary definitions for break off (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 off (1 of 2)
break off
Stop abruptly, as in The trade talks broke off yesterday. [First half of 1300s]
Separate, sever a connection, as in The baby broke off the tops of all the flowers, or The new sect has broken off from the established church. [First half of 1500s]
End a relationship or friendship, as in Mary broke off her engagement to Rob. [Mid-1600s]
Idioms and Phrases with break off (2 of 2)
break