Definitions of break:

• noun:   an escape from jail

  Example: "The breakout was carefully planned"

• noun:   a sudden dash

  Example: "He made a break for the open door"

• noun:   an act of delaying or interrupting the continuity

  Example: "It was presented without commercial breaks"

• noun:   (tennis) a score consisting of winning a game when your opponent was serving

  Example: "He was up two breaks in the second set"

• noun:   the opening shot that scatters the balls in billiards or pool
• noun:   an unexpected piece of good luck

  Example: "He finally got his big break"

• noun:   the occurrence of breaking

  Example: "The break in the dam threatened the valley"

• noun:   any frame in which a bowler fails to make a strike or spare

  Example: "The break in the eighth frame cost him the match"

• noun:   the act of breaking something

  Example: "The breakage was unavoidable"

• noun:   some abrupt occurrence that interrupts

  Example: "There was a break in the action when a player was hurt"

• noun:   breaking of hard tissue such as bone

  Example: "The break seems to have been caused by a fall"

• noun:   a pause from doing something (as work)

  Example: "We took a 10-minute break"

• noun:   a personal or social separation (as between opposing factions)

  Example: "They hoped to avoid a break in relations"

• noun:   a time interval during which there is a temporary cessation of something
• noun:   (geology) a crack in the earth's crust resulting from the displacement of one side with respect to the other
• verb:   move away or escape suddenly

  Example: "Nobody can break out--this prison is high security"

• verb:   change directions suddenly
• verb:   invalidate by judicial action
• verb:   of the male voice in puberty

  Example: "His voice is breaking--he should no longer sing in the choir"

• verb:   render inoperable or ineffective
• verb:   interrupt a continued activity
• verb:   cause the failure or ruin of

  Example: "This play will either make or break the playwright"

• verb:   happen or take place

  Example: "Things have been breaking pretty well for us in the past few months"

• verb:   come forth or begin from a state of latency
• verb:   give up

  Example: "Break cigarette smoking"

• verb:   cause to give up a habit
• verb:   vary or interrupt a uniformity or continuity
• verb:   come to an end
• verb:   become separated into pieces or fragments
• verb:   destroy the integrity of; usually by force; cause to separate into pieces or fragments
• verb:   happen
• verb:   weaken or destroy in spirit or body
• verb:   prevent completion

  Example: "Break off the negociations"

• verb:   change suddenly from one tone quality or register to another
• verb:   come into being
• verb:   find the solution or key to

  Example: "Break the code"

• verb:   find a flaw in

  Example: "Break an alibi"

• verb:   undergo breaking
• verb:   interrupt the flow of current in

  Example: "Break a circuit"

• verb:   be released or become known; of news
• verb:   diminish or discontinue abruptly
• verb:   pierce or penetrate
• verb:   become punctured or penetrated
• verb:   break a piece from a whole

  Example: "Break a branch from a tree"

• verb:   go to pieces
• verb:   ruin completely
• verb:   fall sharply
• verb:   separate from a clinch, in boxing
• verb:   make the opening shot that scatters the balls
• verb:   destroy the completeness of a set of related items

  Example: "The book dealer would not break the set"

• verb:   exchange for smaller units of money

  Example: "I had to break a $100 bill just to buy the candy"

• verb:   force out or release suddenly and often violently something pent up

  Example: "Break into tears"

• verb:   be broken in

  Example: "If the new teacher won't break, we'll add some stress"

• verb:   curl over and fall apart in surf or foam, of waves
• verb:   emerge from the surface of a body of water
• verb:   scatter or part
• verb:   make a rupture in the ranks of the enemy or one's own by quitting or fleeing
• verb:   enter someone's property in an unauthorized manner, usually with the intent to steal or commit a violent act
• verb:   terminate

  Example: "Break a lucky streak"

• verb:   surpass in excellence

  Example: "Break a record"

• verb:   fracture a bone of
• verb:   make submissive, obedient, or useful

  Example: "The horse was tough to break"

• verb:   reduce to bankruptcy

  Example: "My daughter's fancy wedding is going to break me!"

• verb:   fail to agree with; be in violation of; as of rules or patterns
• verb:   become fractured; break or crack on the surface only
• verb:   cease an action temporarily

  Example: "Let's break for lunch"

• verb:   do a break dance

  Example: "Kids were break-dancing at the street corner"

• verb:   assign to a lower position; reduce in rank
• verb:   discontinue an association or relation; go different ways
• verb:   lessen in force or effect

  Example: "Break a fall"

• verb:   break down, literally or metaphorically
• verb:   act in disregard of laws and rules

  Example: "Break a law"

• verb:   stop operating or functioning
• verb:   make known to the public information that was previously known only to a few people or that was meant to be kept a secret