When an object breaks or when you break it, it suddenly separates into two or more pieces, often because it has been hit or dropped.

If you break a part of your body such as your leg, your arm, or your nose, or if a bone breaks, you are injured because a bone cracks or splits.

If a surface, cover, or seal breaks or if something breaks it, a hole or tear is made in it, so that a substance can pass through.

When a tool or piece of machinery breaks or when you break it, it is damaged and no longer works.

If you break a rule, promise, or agreement, you do something that you should not do according to that rule, promise, or agreement.

If you break free or loose, you free yourself from something or escape from it.

If someone breaks something, especially a difficult or unpleasant situation that has existed for some time, they end it or change it.

If someone or something breaks a silence, they say something or make a noise after a long period of silence.

If there is a break in the cloud or weather, it changes and there is a short period of sunshine or fine weather.

If you break with a group of people or a traditional way of doing things, or you break your connection with them, you stop being involved with that group or stop doing things in that way.

If you break a habit or if someone breaks you of it, you no longer have that habit.

To break someone means to destroy their determination and courage, their success, or their career.

If someone breaks for a short period of time, they rest or change from what they are doing for a short period.

A break is a short period of time when you have a rest or a change from what you are doing, especially if you are working or if you are in a boring or unpleasant situation.

A break is a short holiday.

If you break your journey somewhere, you stop there for a short time so that you can have a rest.

To break the force of something such as a blow or fall means to weaken its effect, for example by getting in the way of it.

When a piece of news breaks, people hear about it from the newspapers, television, or radio.

When you break a piece of bad news to someone, you tell it to them, usually in a kind way.

A break is a lucky opportunity that someone gets to achieve something.

If you break a record, you beat the previous record for a particular achievement.

When day or dawn breaks, it starts to grow light after the night has ended.

When a wave breaks, it passes its highest point and turns downwards, for example when it reaches the shore.

If you break a secret code, you work out how to understand it.

If someone's voice breaks when they are speaking, it changes its sound, for example because they are sad or afraid.

When a boy's voice breaks, it becomes deeper and sounds more like a man's voice.

If the weather breaks or a storm breaks, it suddenly becomes rainy or stormy after a period of sunshine.

In tennis, if you break your opponent's serve, you win a game in which your opponent is serving.

The break of day or the break of dawn is the time when it begins to grow light after the night.

You can say 'give me a break' to show that you are annoyed by what someone has said or done.

If you make a break or make a break for it, you run to escape from something.