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break

Word family

ldoce_037_fbreak1 /breɪk/ S1 W1 verb (past tensepst broke /brəʊk $ broʊk/, past participlepp broken /ˈbrəʊkən $ ˈbroʊ-/) → brake

1 IN PIECESseparate into pieces 破碎

a) [transitiveT]BREAK if you break something, you make it separate into two or more pieces, for example by hitting it, dropping it, or bending it 使破裂，使破碎；使断裂

I had to break a window to get into the house.

我只得打破一扇窗户进屋。

Don’t lean on the fence like that – you’ll break it!

不要那样靠在篱笆上——会把它弄断的！

break something in half/two

He broke the biscuit in half and handed one piece to me.

他把饼干掰成两半，递了一块给我。

Break the chocolate into small pieces and melt it over a gentle heat.

把巧克力破成小块，放在文火上化开。

b) [intransitiveI]BREAK if something breaks, it separates into two or more pieces 破裂，破碎；断裂

He kept pulling at the rope until it broke.

他一直拉到绳子，直到把它拉断。

The frames are made of plastic and they tend to break quite easily.

这些框架是塑料做的，很容易碎裂。

2 PART OF YOUR BODYbones 骨头 [transitiveT]BREAK to damage a bone in your body by making it crack or split 使骨折

She fell downstairs and broke her hip.

她从楼梯上摔下来，髋部骨折。

► see thesaurus at hurt

3 NOT WORKINGmachines 机器

a) [transitiveT]BREAK to damage a machine so that it does not work properly 弄坏，损坏〔机器〕

Don’t mess about with my camera – you’ll break it.

别乱动我的照相机，你会把它弄坏的。

Someone’s broken the TV.

有人把电视机弄坏了。

b) [intransitiveI]BREAK if a machine breaks, it stops working properly 〔机器〕损坏，失灵

The washing machine’s broken again.

洗衣机又坏了。

4 RULE/LAW ETCrules/laws 规定/法律 [transitiveT]DISOBEY to disobey a rule or law 不遵守，违犯

They’re breaking the law by employing such young children.

他们雇用这么小的孩子是违法的。

If you break the rules, you will be punished.

违反规定要受到惩罚。

The cameras catch motorists who break the speed limit.

摄像头会拍下超速的司机。

5 PROMISE/AGREEMENTpromise/agreement 诺言/协议 [transitiveT]NOT DO something to not do something that you have promised to do or signed an agreement to do 违反，违背〔诺言或协议〕

I never break my promises.

我从不食言。

You betrayed me. You broke your word.

你出卖了我，你说话不算数。

break an agreement/contract

He was worried that he might be breaking his contract.

他担心自己可能会违约。

6 stop/rest 停下来/休息 [intransitiveI] to stop for a short time in order to have a rest or eat something 稍停，休息

break for

Shall we break for lunch now?

我们现在停下来吃午饭好吗？

7 END A SITUATIONend STH 结束某事物 [transitiveT]CHANGE/MAKE something DIFFERENT to stop something from continuing 打断，中断

We need to break the cycle of poverty and crime in the inner cities.

我们需要打破旧城区里贫困和犯罪的恶性循环。

We took turns driving, in order to try and break the monotony.

我们轮流开车，免得乏味。

New talks will begin on Monday in an effort to break the deadlock.

为打破僵局，星期一将重启会谈。

8 FAILdefeat SB 打垮某人 [transitiveT] to make someone feel that they have been completely defeated and they cannot continue working or living 打垮，击垮

9 destroy an organization 摧毁一个组织 [transitiveT] to damage an organization so badly that it no longer has any power 摧毁，瓦解〔组织〕

10 DAY/DAWNday/dawn 白昼/黎明 [intransitiveI]HAPPEN when the day or the dawn breaks, the sky gets light （天）刚亮，破晓

11 STORMstorm 暴风雨 [intransitiveI]START TO HAPPEN, EXIST ETC if a storm breaks, it begins 〔暴风雨〕来临，突然出现

12 WEATHERweather 天气 [intransitiveI]CHANGE/BECOME DIFFERENT if the weather breaks, it suddenly changes and becomes cold or wet 〔天气〕突然变化

13 WAVEwaves 波浪 [intransitiveI]FALL when waves break, they fall onto the land at the edge of the water 〔波浪〕迸溅，拍岸

14 VOICESB’s voice 某人的嗓音 [intransitiveI]LOW SOUND OR VOICE

15 NEWSnews 消息

16 break a habit STOP DOING somethingto stop doing something that you do regularly, especially something that you should not do 改掉某习惯〔尤指坏习惯〕

Examples from the Corpus

break a habit• I'd once helped her break a habit.• These three actions are vastly superior to breaking a habit by will-power alone.• It is important to understand that we are breaking a habit, for we have been conditioned to react in this way.

17 break a record BESTto do something even faster or even better than the previous best time, amount etc 破记录

Examples from the Corpus

break a record• The 18-year-old with size 18 feet just can't stop breaking records.• Instead of watching the scoreboard this week for broken records, the play-by-play announcer is watching the thermometer.• Eventually, human champions will stop breaking records too.• I said, Listen, man, the broken record was pressed by somebody else, not me.

18 break a journey British EnglishBrE to stop somewhere for a short time during a long journey 中途停留

19 break somebody’s heart to make someone very unhappy by ending a relationship with them or doing something that upsets them a lot 使某人伤心[心碎]

Examples from the Corpus

break somebody’s heart• When Annie left him, it broke his heart.• It'll break your father's heart if you tell him you're quitting the team.• It breaks my heart that his career has been ruined.• It would break her heart to leave the lovely old stone house where she'd lived for so long.• It really broke his heart when she told him it was over.

20 break a strike BELSTOP WORKING/GO ON STRIKEto force workers to end a strike 迫使罢工结束

Examples from the Corpus

break a strike• The company has threatened to hire 700 new workers in order to break the 10-month-old strike.

21 break a link/tie/connection STOP DOING somethingto end a relationship with a person or organization 断绝关系

Examples from the Corpus

break a link/tie/connection• Mr Eastwood argues it would break ties with local communities.• Personnel changes confirmed the new liberalism in the Soviet Union and the attempt to break links with past behaviour.

22 break the skin BREAKto cut the skin on your body 割伤皮肤，撕开皮肤

Examples from the Corpus

break the skin• Marvin gave me a smart kick under the table, nearly breaking the skin on my shin.

23 break the back of something FINISH DOING somethingto finish the main or worst part of something 完成某事物的主要部分；攻克某事物的难关

Examples from the Corpus

break the back of something• It would have been nice for him to wind things up by breaking the back of Britain's opposition to integration.• Their thunderous charges have broken the back of many an invading army.• In Czechoslovakia last March Martin Keown nearly broke the back of the net with a long-range effort.• His two interceptions Sunday broke the back of the Pittsburgh Steelers as Dallas won the duel in the desert, 27-17.• A combination of ground and air action broke the back of the rebellion.• Pouring over its latest simulation runs, Sun is confident it has broken the back of the technical problem.

24 break the bank to cost a lot of money, or more money than you have 花很多钱；透支

Examples from the Corpus

break the bank• Attractive bathrooms need not break the bank.• I had no choice under the circumstances, and the fees won't exactly break the bank.• Shakespeare market a very good one through tackle dealers at a price that will not break the bank.• Should Johnson return to the Dolphins, he will break the bank.• At under £14,500 it won't break the bank either.• Don't worry about breaking the bank either.• I would like to gather everyone somewhere warm and appealing to all ages and not break the bank in doing so.• Last year, Courtney broke the bank with seven out of eight predictions panning out.

25 break somebody’s concentration INTERRUPTto interrupt someone and stop them from being able to continue thinking or talking about something 分散某人的注意力

Examples from the Corpus

break somebody’s concentration• I never listen to music when I'm working - it breaks my concentration.

26 break the silence TALK TO somebodyLOUD/NOISYto end a period of silence by talking or making a noise 打破寂静[沉默]

Examples from the Corpus

break the silence• Finally Shelley felt she had to break the silence.• Only the eerie tinkle of leg irons and shouted commands break the silence.• Protestant voices now and then broke the silence.• She would have to think of something to say in a minute to break the silence.• The roar of a furnace engine broke the silence.• The sound of stockinged legs moving across the room finally broke the silence.• A footstep broke the silence and approached to within ten paces of Blackburn and waited.• The only sound to break the silence of the night was the soft mutter of my engine.

27 break somebody’s spirit FORCE somebody TO DO somethingto destroy someone’s feeling of determination 摧毁某人的意志，挫某人的锐气

28 break somebody’s power to take away someone’s position of power or control 削弱某人的权力

29 break the ice informal to make people feel more friendly and willing to talk to each other 打破冷场[僵局]

Examples from the Corpus

break the ice• That always seems to happen when you break the ice.• This gambit nevertheless breaks the ice, and they begin by discussing the merits of various brands of scotch.• Humour Humour can be an excellent behaviour for easing tensions and breaking the ice between people.• I tried to break the ice by offering her a drink, but she said no.• In the winter, she rose early to break the ice in the washing bowls.• To break the ice, the dorm leader asked us to tell the group what our favorite home-cooked meal was.• She helps break the ice when I am interviewing.• We broke the ice which held our relations in a paralysing grip.• I have to break the ice with a long pole before I can lower a bucket into water.

30 break a code to succeed in understanding something that is written in a secret way 破译密码

Examples from the Corpus

break a code• It broke a code of silence.• Mathematicians of the finest calibre were essential for what then seemed the almost impossible task of breaking a code with astronomical permutations.

31. break wind HBHto allow gas to escape from your bottom, making a noise and an unpleasant smell 放屁

Examples from the Corpus

break wind• Lifting up one of his legs he broke wind loudly, causing Sarah to purse her lips.• The boy might break wind or say a naughty word and forfeit the protection of that great white spirit.

32 break (somebody’s) serve DSTto win a game in tennis when your opponent is starting the game by hitting the ball first 〔网球中〕破（某人的）发球（局）得分

Examples from the Corpus

break (somebody’s) serve• There was a point where I broke her serve for 5-5.• He gave Edberg no chance of breaking him, serving four stunning aces and a massive percentage of first services.• No surprise breaks of serve, no marathon games.• But once she had consolidated the break and served out for the set she was unable to summon the same assertiveness.

33. break a leg spoken used to wish someone luck, especially just before they perform on stage 祝你成功，祝你好运〔尤用于在某人上台表演前〕

n Grammar

Break belongs to a group of verbs where the same noun can be the subject of the verb or its object.

You can say:

I broke a glass.

In this sentence, ‘a glass’ is the object of break.

You can also say:

A glass broke.

In this sentence, ‘a glass’ is the subject of break.

n COLLOCATIONS – Meaning 5: to not do something that you have promised to do or signed an agreement to do

break + NOUN

break your promise

I’ll never forgive him for breaking his promise to me.

break your word (=break your promise)

I’ve promised to do it and I never break my word.

break your vow (=break a serious or formal promise)

He accused her of breaking her marriage vows.

break (off) your engagement

In the end she decided to break their engagement.

break a contract

He took the company to court for breaking the contract.

break an agreement

This action broke the international agreement of 1925.

THESAURUS

to break something 打破某物

break verb [transitiveT] to damage something and make it separate into pieces, for example by dropping it or hitting it 使破裂，打碎

Careful you don’t break the chair.

小心别把椅子弄坏。

He broke his leg.

他的腿摔断了。

smash verb [transitiveT] to break something with a lot of force 〔猛力〕打碎，砸碎

A policeman smashed his camera.

一名警察砸碎了他的照相机。

snap verb [transitiveT] to break something into two pieces, making a loud noise – used especially about long thin objects 啪地折断〔尤用于指细长的物体〕

He snapped the sticks in two.

他啪的一声折断了枝条。

split verb [transitiveT] to separate something into two pieces along a straight line 使分成两半

Using a sharp knife, split the melon in half.

用快刀把瓜切成两半。

fracture verb [transitiveT] to damage a bone, especially so that a line appears on the surface 使断裂，使折断〔尤指骨骼等表面有裂痕〕

I fell over and fractured my wrist.

我摔倒了，手腕骨折。

tear /teə $ ter/ verb [transitiveT] to damage paper or cloth by pulling it so that it separates into pieces 撕破〔纸或布料〕

She tore up the letter and put it in the bin.

她把信撕碎后扔进了垃圾筒。

I tore my jacket.

我把外套给扯破了。

to become broken 被打碎

break verb [intransitiveI] to become damaged and separate into pieces 破裂，碎裂

Plastic breaks quite easily.

塑料很容易碎裂。

smash verb [intransitiveI] to break after being hit with a lot of force 〔遭猛击而〕粉碎

The bowl smashed as it hit the floor.

碗打在地上摔碎了。

shatter verb [intransitiveI] to break into a lot of small pieces 粉碎

The glass shattered all over the pavement.

玻璃在人行道上碎得到处都是。

crack verb [intransitiveI] if something cracks, a line appears on the surface, which means that it could later break into separate pieces 裂开；出现裂纹

The ice was starting to crack.

冰开始裂了。

burst verb [intransitiveI] if a tyre, balloon, pipe etc bursts, it gets a hole and air or liquid suddenly comes out of it 〔轮胎、气球、管道等〕破裂，爆裂

She blew up the balloon until it burst.

她吹着气球，直到把它吹爆。

split verb [intransitiveI] to break in a straight line 〔沿直线〕裂开

The damp had caused the wood to split.

因为潮湿，木头开裂了。

crumble verb [intransitiveI] to break into a powder or a lot of small pieces 碎裂，崩裂〔成粉末或碎屑〕

The cork just crumbled in my hand.

软木塞就在我手中碎裂了。

PHRASAL VERBS

Examples from the Corpus

break• I think I was about 14 when my voice broke.• I think the switch is broken.• My watchband has broken.• She dropped a plate and it broke.• Do not use this product if the seal has been broken.• I saw him thrown into the shattered windshield, bounced around inside the Volvo, his face slashed and his bones broken.• Farmers are anxious for the cold weather to break.• He once broke a window of his grandfather's greenhouse with a football.• Her voice breaks as she talks about her missing children.• Britain stood for political ideals that must prevail if western civilization were not to break down.• Careful, those glasses break easily.• She fell off her bike and broke her glasses.• It was such bad luck - it was our first time skiing and Nicola broke her leg.• It just broke. I didn't even touch it!• His nose was broken in two places by a player he had sent off for violent play.• If you break it you'll have to pay for it out of your allowance.• Leave that clock alone - you'll break it!• One of the kids put some rocks in the blender and broke it.• I was trying to ease the wagon down a short slope when it broke loose and almost broke my leg.• I broke my leg last time I went skiing.• I'll let you break next game.• From time to time he broke off his labours to return to the great court to look out for Tutilo returning.• I broke one of her platters once, and I swear she's never forgiven me.• How did you manage to break the microwave?• I don't know what she did, but she managed to break the sewing machine.• Only once did Norwich break their stranglehold, midway through the first-half, when John Polston moved up to rattle a post.

break something in half/two• The midsection of the plane is broken nearly in two.• He would have broken it in two and made us watch him do it.• She takes out another donut, breaks it in half and offers it to me.• So he went at me, but I ducked and he hit the shelf - he broke his thumb in two places!• Terrified, she threw herself from the first floor apartment window, breaking her spine in two places.• Once some increasing-returns sectors become nontraded, the analysis breaks down in two ways.• He could have broken me in two with one hand, but he could not break my spirit.

break ... rules• He knew he was breaking the rules.• Telling the truth about mothering-when it does not refer to the oneness and bliss-means breaking the rules.• This raises the question of who is responsible if the individual trader breaks the rules.• If only he knew you never break the rules Dudley Do-Right.• Yet even then, as whenever she broke the rules, I had to admit to a tiny bubble of delight.• Very slowly, I realize I can break the rules I hate.• To misuse or break the rules of winking is to produce misunderstanding, puzzlement, complaint, or some other social reaction.• Athletes can be find thousands of dollars for breaking the rules on steroid use.• As I said, you can break the rules sometimes.• Any student caught breaking the school rules was immediately sent to the Principal.

break an agreement/contract• And I am also not some one to break contracts.• Farmers say supermarkets put them under pressure to sell at rock bottom prices-and regularly break contracts.• How can a teacher break a contract?• What are the legal consequences of breaking a contract?• Thus an agreement to break a contract may not be actionable.• He broke agreements on a whim, relying on private bargains and connections.• Companies are not regarded as individuals under the Act and are therefore unable to break contracts once signed.• Of course, a teacher who breaks a contract will also be liable to the school; district.

break for• Things could improve as the effects of a tax break for defense manufacturers become evident.• As they break for food the general conversation isn't much toned down for her benefit.• A couple of them made a break for it.• Ever see some one walk into a computer store, grab a floor model and make a break for it?• I pulled Susan, and made a break for it.• As the inquest broke for lunch one relative cornered him in the street.• In August, they will break for the presidential conventions.• It was make or break for us.

break ... deadlock• But Mr Razali is the first envoy to successfully break the deadlock.• But, last week, news broke that contacts were under way to break the deadlock.• Marco Van Basten grabbed his fourth goal of the season, 12 minutes after Daniele Massaro had broken the deadlock.• Senior officials will meet again in October in an attempt to break the deadlock.• Then, at last, Guido broke the deadlock.• Three minutes before the interval Millen struck to break the deadlock and Love made it two a minute later.• Perhaps here was the key to break the deadlock, the key to the throne of the Wyrmberg.• But birthday boy Wright was waiting to break the deadlock with the goal he had been seeking all night.

break ... news• Davis found that the greater the probable handicap, the greater the reluctance to break the news.• Me: How did you break the news?• None wanted to be the one to break the news.• In a desperate attempt to break the news gently to the Overs, Mr Cronje asked police not to visit their home.• They rang from the duty office to break the news to me just after nine.• It was at some point during this trip that she broke the news to Sam.• I broke the news to some people.• Sir Bryan himself had broken the news to Stephen Bonnard.

Related topics: Tennis, Baseball

break2 S2 W2 noun

1 stop working 停止工作 [countableC] a period of time when you stop working in order to rest, eat etc 休息

2 stop doing STH 停止做某事 [countableC] a period of time when you stop doing something before you start again 中断，暂停

3 holiday 假期 [countableC] a short holiday 短暂的假期，休假

4 at school 在学校里 [uncountableU] the time during the school day when classes stop and teachers and students can rest, eat, play etc 课间休息

5 on tv 在电视上 [countableC] a pause for advertisements during a television or radio programme 〔电视或广播节目中的〕广告时间

6 STH stops happening 某事停止发生 [countableC] a period of time when something stops happening before it starts again 暂停，中止

7 END/CHANGEend a relationship 结束关系 [singular]FINISH/COME TO AN END a time when you leave a person or group, or end a relationship with someone 结束，断绝

8 A SPACEspace/hole 空间/洞 [countableC]SPACE/GAP a space or hole in something 裂口，缺口，裂缝

9 A CHANCEchance 机会 [countableC] informalCHANCE/OPPORTUNITY a sudden or unexpected chance to do something that allows you to become successful in your job 〔意想不到的〕机会，机遇

10 BROKEN PLACEbones 骨头 [countableC]INJURE the place where a bone in your body has broken 骨折

11 TENNIStennis 网球 [countableC]DST a situation in a game of tennis in which you win a game when your opponent is starting the game by hitting the ball first 破发，破发球局得分

12. POINTSsnooker 斯诺克 [countableC]DSB the number of points that a player wins when it is their turn to hit the ball in a game such as snooker 连击所得的分数

13 break with tradition/the past a time when people stop following old customs and do something in a completely different way 与传统/过去的决裂

Examples from the Corpus

break with tradition/the past• Although people complained about the volume, the rhythmic concept represented his biggest break with the past.• However, the changes were not a complete break with the past.• She has broken with the past.• Yet the plan represents an important break with the past.• Can the break with the past be more vividly described?• Would there be a total break with the past?• Thinking they were breaking with the past, the early Christians re-enacted it.• After a point, you break with the past.

14 make a break for something ESCAPEto suddenly start running towards something in order to escape from a place 〔为了逃跑〕突然冲向某地

Examples from the Corpus

made a break for it• I pulled Susan, and made a break for it.• After the police fired tear gas, one hostage made a break for it.• A couple of them made a break for it.

15. give me/it a break! spokenSTOP DOING something used when you want someone to stop doing or saying something that is annoying you 别烦我！

16 give somebody a break spoken to stop being strict with someone so that a situation becomes easier for them 给某人一次机会，不苛求某人

Examples from the Corpus

give somebody a break• Give me a break, you guys! I can't get the money until Friday.• Instead of using your train time to read two more interoffice memos, give yourself a break and read something for fun.• If the assurances were not given or subsequently broken, the firm could be taken to court.• It hadn't been difficult for Bill to accede to his wife's nagging to give the girl a break.• That is, if anyone can be persuaded to give Mr Chekhov a break.• But the council refused to give them a break.• Expanded IRAs for this higher-income group will give costly tax breaks to people who are already saving for retirement.

17. the break of day literaryEARLY the time early in the morning when it starts getting light 黎明，拂晓

Examples from the Corpus

the break of day• Old blackout curtains staunch the break of day.

n COLLOCATIONS

verbs

have/take a break

After two hours, she took a break and switched on the radio.

need a break

I’m sorry, I can’t do any more - I need a break.

ADJECTIVES/NOUN + break

a short/quick break

Shall we have a quick five-minute break?

a lunch break

What time’s your lunch break?

a coffee/tea break

How about a coffee break?

a morning/afternoon break

I don’t usually have time for a morning break.

a well-earned break (=one that you deserve)

Everyone’s looking forward to a well-earned break when the exams are over.

Examples from the Corpus

break• There had been barely a break in their conversation as they hopped the rocks.• I spoke to him briefly during a break in rehearsals.• Gary wants to work in television. He's just waiting for a break.• Some agencies are particularly keen to attract nurses who have had a break in practice and provide reorientation for new staff.• After finishing school, Craig felt he needed a break from studying.• Gonzales needs a break of serve to even the match up.• Can you take a break next month?• There was a break of two years between his last book and this one.• Some new networks can heal themselves when a break occurs, without any involvement from a repairman.• Harry had worked for eight hours without a break.• Could you come and see me during afternoon break?• Come and see me at break, Tom.• Nimoy's big break in television came in the mid-'60s, when he won the role of Spock on "Star Trek."• The students get a few days' break in February.• Seeing that advertisement in the paper was a lucky break for me.• Superior Court Judge Hiroshi Fujisaki abruptly called for an early lunch break.• I'll phone you in my lunch break.• The children have a fifteen-minute break at 11 o'clock.• She returned to her job after a six-month break.• Daytona Beach is preparing for the thousands of college students who will arrive for spring break.• OK, let's run through it again straight after the break.• But when one came it was on the break, Tovalieri getting Bari's third.• The break has not healed correctly.• During those breaks tea was brewed over Bunsen burners, and he sat back and answered questions.• She's had a two-year break from competitive running, but now she's staging a comeback.

lunch break• Then we had a lunch break during which time the Head went round and awarded marks for the cleanest class.• More volunteers would also allow the workers simple pleasures like a lunch break without feeling guilty.• Superior Court Judge Hiroshi Fujisaki abruptly called for an early lunch break.• I timed it so I caught Stu on his lunch break.• After all, the 27-year-old farm worker fully intended to return to work when his 30-minute lunch break was over.• I rang Joy and Alan, who came immediately and stayed, apart from a quick lunch break, all day.• Oh, they had a little fun trapping regents going to the bathroom during the lunch break.• Zaza and Fiona were discussing their plans to visit Top Shop in their lunch break.

career break• I took up a position in a university library after a career break.• It has been written to meet the needs of those returning to work after a career break.• It is vital that the education system should attract back women who have taken a career break to raise a family.• But despite all the bonhomie about career breaks in the Nogales maquilas, Colantuoni says one thing is clear.• We already encourage job-shares, part-time working and career breaks and we are introducing home working.• His next big career break came about almost by accident.• Employers who do not offer career breaks and childcare facilities may find themselves passed over in favour of employers who do.

the Easter/Christmas etc break• Of course, no day is typical and there are particular tensions which emerge in the few weeks before the Christmas break.• Before the Christmas break it became apocalyptic.• Adam was nineteen and in his first year at university, though at that time at home for the Easter break.• Thomas Cook is to launch a £1m campaign to encourage late bookers to travel over the Easter break.• For Armagh it's crucial they build on a series of heart-warming displays since the Christmas break.• To emphasise the message, ministers have been told to spend the Easter break in Britain rather than holidaying overseas.• Everything was A-Okay until the Christmas break.• A Forte spokesperson says the launch of the Heritage campaign is timed to coincide with the Easter break.

break time• What should happen to helpers at break times?• Important parts of the job could be carried out at break times or through telephone calls.• The selling of sugar free squash at break times provides a service appreciated by children and also generates a regular income.• Oh, looks like it's coffee break time - again.• Royal watchers say the 47-year-old prince recognizes it is make or break time for him personally.• And the break time in between has been cut from 1 minute, 30 seconds to 50 seconds.• Should they have their break times in the staff rooms or is this an intrusion into staff freedom?

break in the weather• Taking advantage of a brief break in the weather, people covered the fountain.• The break in the weather made it easier for everyone.

break with• The ceremony is a complete break with tradition.• This ruling represents a major break with the policies of the past 35 years.

lucky break• It might be a lucky break.• Outside Nordhausen he had a lucky break.• Key events included radical job changes and serious problems, as well as lucky breaks.• Ace thought that was another suspiciously lucky break, but she had no complaints.• He wouldn't be getting much sleep over the next few days unless they got a very lucky break.

break of serve• No surprise breaks of serve, no marathon games.

From Longman Business Dictionary

breakbreak1 /breɪk/ verb (past tensepst broke /brəʊkbroʊk/, past participlepp broken /ˈbrəʊkənˈbroʊ-/)

1[transitiveT] if someone breaks a law, rule, agreement etc, they do not do what it says they should do

If you copy music files from the Internet, you could easily be breaking the law.

The other company broke the terms of its agreement.

2if employers break a STRIKE, they force the strikers to end it, perhaps with the help of the army or the police

He broke the ambulancemen’s strike by getting the army to answer emergency calls.

3break even to neither make a profit nor lose money

The company needs to charge $13 a ton to break even.

The retailer warns that it expects sales to be down by 15%, and it may only break even.

→ break down

→ break something → up

breakbreak2 noun [countableC]

1a period of time when you stop working or stop what you are doing in order to rest, eat, take a holiday etc

He was entitled to a forty-five minute lunch break.

Employers must provide people who work at computers with rest breaks.

→ bio break → city break → mini break

2 (also commercial break) a pause for advertisements during a television or radio programme

We’ll be back with more music after the break.

3FINANCE a sudden, large fall in market prices, especially the price of shares on a stockmarket

The big break in cattle prices has forced ranchers to stop selling young cattle.

4a sudden or unexpected chance to do something, especially to be successful in your job

She got her first break in 1951 on Broadway.

He did small commercials for Yellow Pages before getting his big break with the Porsche advert.

5a period of several weeks or years during which something stops, before continuing again

break in

If you have a break in paid employment for two complete consecutive tax years, you must pay full-rate contributions when you return to work.

→ career break

Origin break1

Old English brecan

break1 verb

→10-19

→20-33

→n GRAMMAR1 →n COLLOCATIONS1 →THESAURUS1 →PHRASAL VERBS1break2 noun

→10-17

→n COLLOCATIONS1

LDOCE Online

Chinese

Corpus

IELTS BNC: 519 COCA: 494

break

noun¹

short rest; short holiday/vacation短暫休息；短期休假

ADJECTIVE | VERB + BREAK | BREAK + NOUN | PREPOSITION

ADJECTIVE

➤little, quick, short小憩；短暫的休息

▸➤coffee, dinner, lunch, tea (BrE) 工間喝咖啡／用餐／午餐／茶點休息時間

▸➤Christmas, Easter, holiday聖誕節假期；復活節假期；短假

◇Are you going away for the Easter break?你要出去度復活節假期嗎？

➤spring, summer, winter春假；暑假；寒假

➤weekend (especially BrE) 週末休息

◇I won a weekend break in Paris.我爭取到了一個週末去巴黎度假的機會。

➤10-minute, two-week, etc. * 10 分鐘的休息時間、兩週的假期等

◇We have a 15-minute break in the morning.我們上午有 15 分鐘的休息時間。

VERB + BREAK

➤have, take休息一會兒

◇We'll take a break now and resume in an hour.現在休息一下，一小時後再開始。

➤need, want需要小憩

➤deserve應該得到休息

➤enjoy享受假期

BREAK + NOUN

➤time (= between lessons at school)

(BrE)

課間休息時間

PREPOSITION

➤at break (BrE) 在休息時

◇I'll see you at break.我們休息時見。

➤during (a/the) break在休息期間

◇I had a word with John during the break.中間休息時我和約翰說了幾句話。

➤without a break不間斷地

◇We worked all day without a break.我們不間斷地工作了一整天。

➤break for⋯休息時間

◇a break for lunch午餐休息時間

➤break from擺脫⋯的時間

◇a break from caring for the children不用照看孩子的空閒時間

break

noun²

change/interruption in sth改變；中斷

ADJECTIVE | VERB + BREAK | PREPOSITION

ADJECTIVE

➤clean, complete, sharp徹底斷絕關係；完全決裂；突然中斷

▸➤career（因照顧小孩而）暫時停止工作

▸➤commercial (especially NAmE) 插播廣告時間

➤nice, welcome (especially BrE) 討人喜歡的／受歡迎的中斷

VERB + BREAK

➤make中斷；作出改變

◇His new work makes a break with the past.他的新工作使他告別了過去。

◇I wanted to leave but was nervous about making the break.我想離開，但是一想到要改變又覺得不安。

PREPOSITION

➤break from與⋯決裂

◇a break from tradition突破傳統

➤break in⋯的轉變

◇a break in the weather天氣變化

➤break with與⋯斷絕關係

break

noun³

opportunity機遇

ADJECTIVE | VERB + BREAK

ADJECTIVE

➤big, lucky好運

VERB + BREAK

➤get得到⋯的機會

◇I always knew I would get my lucky break one day.我一直知道總有一天我會交好運的。

➤give sb給某人機會

◇He's the director who gave her her first big break.他是第一個給她大好機會的導演。

break

verb

ADVERB | PREPOSITION

ADVERB

➤easily容易破碎

▸➤in half, in two碎成兩塊

◇She broke the bar in two and gave a piece to me.她把糖塊掰成兩半給了我一塊。

➤apart, up斷開

◇She broke the chocolate up into small pieces.她把巧克力弄成小塊。

PREPOSITION

➤into破成

◇The glass broke into hundreds of pieces.玻璃摔得粉碎。

break

verb

●break down

1. fail失敗

ADVERB

➤completely, irretrievably徹底失敗；不可挽回地破裂

◇Their marriage had broken down irretrievably.他們的婚姻已破裂，不可挽回。

➤eventually最終失敗

2. start crying哭起來

PHRASES

➤break down and cry, break down in tears控制不住感情哭起來；失聲哭泣

◇She broke down in tears as she spoke to reporters.她向記者訴說時，忍不住哭了起來。

●break off

ADVERB

➤abruptly, immediately突然／立即停住

◇He broke off abruptly when Jo walked in.喬走進來時，他突然停住不說了。

PREPOSITION

➤from停止⋯

◇She broke off from the conversation to answer the telephone.她停止交談去接電話。

IELTS BNC: 519 COCA: 494

break noun
⇨ holiday 1 (Spring Break) ⇨ holiday 2 (a weekend break) ⇨ opportunity (a lucky break) ⇨ pause (a break in your routine) ⇨ rest 2 (a lunch break)break verb
⇨ break 1 (break a window/leg) ⇨ break 2 (a machine breaks) ⇨ break 3 (break the law) ⇨ break 4 (break a promise) ⇨ convey (break the news to sb)break

verb

break a window/leg 打破窗户；摔断腿

a machine breaks 机器坏了

break the law 违反法律

break a promise 违背诺言

➡ See also the entry for

smash

另见smash条

break

♦︎

crack

♦︎

fracture

♦︎

snapThese words all refer to sth being damaged as a result of force, usually so that it separates into two or more parts. 这些词均表示打破、破裂、断裂。

PATTERNS AND COLLOCATIONS 句型和搭配

◆to break / crack / fracture a bone / rib

◆to break / fracture your hip / jaw / wrist

◆to crack / fracture your skull

◆to break / crack a / an cup / egg / mirror

◆a branch / cable / rope breaks / snaps

◆a broken / cracked / fractured pipe

■ break

(

broke

, broken

)

[intransitive

, transitive]

to damage sth or be damaged so that it separates into two or more parts, as a result of force （使）破，裂，碎

◆She dropped the plate and it broke into pieces.她把盘子掉在地上打碎了。

◆She fell off a ladder and broke her arm.她从梯子上掉下来，摔断了胳膊。

◆I didn't mean to break the window.我不是故意打破窗玻璃的。

◆He broke the chocolate in two and gave me half.他把那块巧克力一分为二，给了我一半。

◆How did this dish get broken?这只盘子是怎么打破的？

▸

breakage

ˈbreɪkɪdʒ

noun

[countable

, uncountable]

◆The last time we moved house there were very few breakages.我们上次搬家时几乎没有什么物品破损。

◆Wrap it up carefully to protect against breakage.把它包好，以免破损。

■ crack

[intransitive

, transitive]

(of sth hard) to break so that lines appear in it, but without dividing into separate parts; to break sth in this way （使硬物）破裂，裂开，断裂

◆The ice cracked as I stepped on it.我一踩冰就裂了。

◆The leather / mud / paint / plaster had cracked.皮革／泥／油漆／灰泥已开裂。

◆He has cracked a bone in his arm.他的手臂有一处骨裂。

◆Her lips were dry and cracked.她的嘴唇干裂了。

ⓘ Less frequently, to crack can involve breaking into separate parts, if it is used with a preposition. * crack与介词连用可表示打碎，此义较少用

◆She cracked an egg into the pan.她往锅里打了一个鸡蛋。

see also

crack ⇨

crack

noun

■ fracture

ˈfræktʃə(r)

[intransitive

, transitive]

(rather formal)

to break or crack; to make sth break or crack （使）断裂，折断，破裂

◆Cast iron is not only heavy, but likely to fracture.铸铁不仅重，还有可能断裂。

◆A gas escape from a fractured pipe was the likely cause of the explosion.可能是从破裂的管道里泄露的煤气引发了爆炸。

◆He fell and fractured his skull.他跌倒摔裂了颅骨。

▸

fracture

noun

[countable

, uncountable]

◆She sustained two fractures to her leg.她的一条腿有两处骨折。

◆Ground movements could cause fracture of the pipe.地层移动可能导致管道破裂。

NOTE 辨析 Break, crack or fracture?Any of these verbs can be used for bones; break or fracture but not crack can be used for joints. 这些动词均可指骨折或骨裂。break和fracture可指关节部位的骨折，但crack不能

◆He cracked his hip/jaw/wrist.

Only break can be used for arms and legs. 只有break可指手臂和腿骨折

◆She cracked/fractured her arm/leg.

Fracture is the usual verb for talking about skulls (= the bone structure in the head); you can also use crack, but not break. 颅骨开裂通常用fracture，也可用crack，但不用break

◆He fell and broke his skull.

■ snap

(

-pp-

)

[intransitive

, transitive]

to break suddenly into two pieces with a sharp noise; to break sth in this way （使喀嚓）断裂，绷断

◆Suddenly the rope snapped.绳子突然啪地绷断了。

◆The wind had snapped the tree in two.风把树喀嚓一声刮断了。

break

verb

break a window/leg 打破窗户；摔断腿

a machine breaks 机器坏了

break the law 违反法律

break a promise 违背诺言

break

♦︎

fail

♦︎

break down

♦︎

go wrong

♦︎

crash

♦︎

go downThese are all words that can be used when a machine stops working because of a fault. 这些词均表示机器出故障、失灵。

PATTERNS AND COLLOCATIONS 句型和搭配

◆a video / watch breaks / goes wrong

◆a washing machine breaks down / goes wrong

◆an engine fails / breaks down

◆a computer goes wrong / crashes

◆a system fails / crashes / goes down

■ break

(

broke

, broken

)

[intransitive

, transitive]

(of a device or small machine) to stop working as a result of being damaged; to damage a device or small machine and stop it from working （装置或小型机器）损坏，坏掉；弄坏

◆My watch has broken.我的表坏了。

◆I think I've broken the video.我可能把录像机弄坏了。

■ fail

[intransitive]

(of a system, part of a machine or system, or part of the body) to stop working （系统、机器或系统的一部分）出故障，失灵；（身体部位）出毛病

◆The air-conditioning system failed on the hottest day of the year.空调系统在一年里最热的那天瘫痪了。

◆The brakes on my bike failed halfway down the hill.我的自行车下山途中车闸失灵了。

▸

failure

noun

[uncountable

, countable]

◆patients suffering from heart / kidney failure心脏／肾衰竭的病人

◆A power failure plunged everything into darkness.停电使一切陷入黑暗。

■ ˌbreak ˈdown

phrasal verb

(

broke

, broken

)

(of a machine or vehicle) to stop working because of a fault （机器或车辆）出故障，坏掉

◆The washing machine has broken down again.洗衣机又坏了。

◆We (= our car) broke down on the motorway.我们的车在高速公路上抛锚了。

▸

breakdown

ˈbreɪkdaʊn

noun

◆a breakdown on the motorway在高速公路上抛锚

■ ˌgo ˈwrong

idiom

(

goes

, went

, gone

)

to stop working correctly 发生故障；出毛病

◆My watch keeps going wrong.我的手表老是出毛病。

◆The new television set will contain fewer components to go wrong.新电视机出故障的部件会更少。

ⓘ Machines, devices and parts inside machines and vehicles can go wrong; whole vehicles cannot. * go wrong指机器、装置或机器和车辆的零部件出毛病，车辆整体发生故障不能用go wrong

◆The car has gone wrong again.

If sth goes wrong, it may not stop working completely, as it does if it breaks or breaks down. * go wrong所指的故障未必使事物完全停止运转，break或break down则指彻底坏掉。

■ crash

[intransitive

, transitive]

(of a computer or computer system) to stop working suddenly; to make a computer or computer system stop working suddenly （使计算机或计算机系统）崩溃

◆Files can be lost if the system suddenly crashes.要是计算机系统突然崩溃，文件就可能丢失。

▸

crash

noun

[countable]

◆A systems crash in the morning and a bomb scare in the afternoon provided enough excitement.上午的计算机系统崩溃和下午的炸弹恐吓让人受够了刺激。

■ ˌgo ˈdown

phrasal verb

(

goes

, went

, gone

)

[intransitive]

(of a computer system) to stop working temporarily （计算机系统）暂停运行

◆The system is going down in ten minutes.系统十分钟后要暂停运行。

NOTE 辨析 Crash or go down?Individual computers or whole systems can crash and this is always sudden and unexpected; when a system goes down, it may have been turned off deliberately to prevent people from using it while work is carried out on it. * crash指单个计算机或整个系统意外地突然崩溃；go down指系统或许被故意关闭，以阻止执行工作时有人使用。

break

verb

break a window/leg 打破窗户；摔断腿

a machine breaks 机器坏了

break the law 违反法律

break a promise 违背诺言

break

♦︎

breach

♦︎

infringe

♦︎

violateThese words all mean to do sth that is against the law, an agreement or a principle. 这些词均表示违反法律、协议或原则。

PATTERNS AND COLLOCATIONS 句型和搭配

◆to break / breach / infringe a regulation

◆to break / breach / violate a rule / law / treaty

◆to break / infringe / violate a code

◆to break / violate a ceasefire / truce

◆to breach / infringe / violate copyright

◆to breach / infringe / violate Article 12 of the treaty

■ break

[transitive]

to do sth that is against the law or a rule or agreement 违反（法律、规定或协议）

◆to break an agreement / a contract违反协议／合同

◆Would you be willing to break the law to achieve your goal?你愿意为达到目的而违反法律吗？

◆They insist that they have not broken any rules.他们坚持说他们没有违反任何规章。

◆He was breaking the speed limit (= driving faster than the law allows).他违章超速行驶。

OPP

obey ⇨

■ breach

briːtʃ

[transitive]

(formal)

to not keep an agreement; to not obey a rule or law 违背；违反；违犯

◆The government is accused of breaching the terms of the treaty.政府被控违反条约中的规定。

OPP

comply ⇨

▸

breach

noun

[countable

, uncountable]

◆a breach of contract / copyright / warranty违约；侵犯版权；违反保证

◆This action is in breach of Article 119 of the Constitution.该行为触犯了宪法第119条。

NOTE 辨析 Break or breach? Breach is more formal. You can breach a particular rule, but you would break 'the law' in general. 与break相比，breach较正式。特指违反某一规章可用breach，泛指违法则用break

◆areas where EU limits were breached违反欧盟限制的地区

◆They are breaching the law and could be in serious trouble.

People break laws. Either people or actions can breach rules. 表示人违法用break laws，人或行为违背规章均可用breach rules。

■ infringe

ɪnˈfrɪndʒ

[transitive

, intransitive]

(formal)

(of an action or plan) to break a law; to limit sb's legal rights （行动或计划）违法；侵犯，侵害（合法权益）

◆The material can be copied without infringing copyright.这份材料可以复制，不会侵犯版权。

◆They said that compulsory identity cards would infringe civil liberties.他们说强制办理身份证会侵犯公民自由。

◆She refused to answer questions that infringed on her private affairs.她拒绝回答侵犯她隐私的问题。

▸

infringement

noun

[uncountable

, countable]

◆copyright infringement对版权的侵犯

◆an infringement of his personal liberty对他的人身自由的侵犯

■ violate

ˈvaɪəleɪt

[transitive]

(formal)

to refuse to obey or keep a law, principle or agreement; to disturb or not respect sb's peace or privacy 违反，违犯，违背（法律、原则或协议）；搅扰；侵犯（隐私）

◆The directive violates fundamental human rights.该指令违反基本人权。

◆She accused press photographers of violating her privacy.她指责新闻摄影记者侵犯了她的隐私。

OPP

respect ⇨

see also

invade ⇨

interfere

▸

violation

noun

[countable

, uncountable]

◆gross violations of human rights对人权的粗暴践踏

◆They were in open violation of the treaty.他们公然违反条约。

NOTE 辨析 Infringe or violate? Violate often describes actions that are not just illegal, but morally wrong. Infringe can be about sb's personal rights, but it is not as strong as violate, which is more about universal human rights. * violate所描述的行为常常不仅是非法的，还是不道德的。infringe可以指侵犯个人权利，但不如violate强烈，violate更多指侵犯普世人权。

break

⁴

verb

break a window/leg 打破窗户；摔断腿

a machine breaks 机器坏了

break the law 违反法律

break a promise 违背诺言

break

♦︎

withdraw

♦︎

do a U-turn

♦︎

retract

♦︎

recant

♦︎

take sth back

♦︎

backtrack

♦︎

go back on sthThese words all mean to change an earlier statement, opinion or promise. 这些词均表示改变、撤回原先的声明、观点或承诺。

PATTERNS AND COLLOCATIONS 句型和搭配

◆to break / withdraw / go back on a promise

◆to break / go back on your word / an agreement

◆to withdraw / retract a / an claim / allegation / confession

■ break

[transitive]

to not keep a promise or agreement 违背（诺言或协议）

◆I've never broken my word; why should I do it now?我从未食言过，为什么现在要这么做？

◆She has already broken three appointments (= not gone to them).她已经爽约三次了。

OPP

keep ⇨

keep

■ withdraw

wɪðˈdrɔː, wɪθˈdrɔː

(

withdrew

, withdrawn

)

[transitive]

(formal)

to say that you no longer believe that sth you previously said is true 收回，撤回，撤销（说过的话）

◆The newspaper withdrew the allegations the next day.这家报纸第二天收回了那些说法。

■ ˌdo a ˈU-turn

(informal,

~~especially journalism 尤用于新闻~~)

to make a complete change in policy or behaviour, usually one that is embarrassing （在政策或行为上）作出（令人尴尬的）彻底转变

◆The Prime Minister may be forced to do another humiliating U-turn on Europe.首相在欧洲政策上也许再一次被迫做出不光彩的180度大转变。

ⓘ Do a U-turn is most often found in contexts relating to politics and business. Because doing a U-turn is seen as being an embarrassing experience, it is usually used with verbs such as have to and be forced to. * do a U-turn最常出现在与政治和商业相关的语境里。由于do a U-turn被视作令人尴尬的做法，故通常与have to、be forced to等动词连用。

see also

U-turn ⇨

revolution

■ retract

rɪˈtrækt

[transitive]

(formal)

to say that sth you said earlier is not true or correct or that you did not mean it 撤销，收回（说过的话）

◆He made a false confession which he later retracted.他作了假供词，后来又翻供。

see also

retraction ⇨

denial

NOTE 辨析 Withdraw or retract?In many cases you can use either word. 在许多情况下这两个词可以通用

◆to withdraw / retract a claim / an allegation / a confession撤销声明／说法／供词

However, retract is used more often when sb has been forced to say sth (like a false confession) that they did not really mean and wish to give their true opinion; withdraw is used more often when sb has made a claim or accusation against sb that they cannot prove, and is forced to admit that it is not true. 不过，某人被迫说了本意不想说的话（如假供词），但希望能说出真实的看法时较常用retract；某人作出了针对他人未经证实的断言或指控，被迫承认所言非实时较常用withdraw。

■ recant

rɪˈkænt

[transitive

, intransitive]

(formal)

(especially in the past) to say publicly that you no longer have the same belief or opinion （尤指旧时）公开宣布放弃（原先的信仰或观点）

◆In 1633 he was forced to recant his assertion that the earth orbited the sun.他在1633年被迫公开宣布放弃地球围绕太阳运转的断言。

■ ˌtake sth ˈback

phrasal verb

(

took

, taken

)

(rather informal,

especially spoken)

to admit that sth you said was wrong or that you should not have said it 收回，撤回（说过的不当的话）

◆OK, I take it all back!好吧，我把我说过的话统统收回！

ⓘ Take sth back is most often used in spoken expressions such as Would you like to take that back? (said to sb who has just offended the speaker), Can I take that back? or I take it (all) back. * take sth back最常用于口语表达，如Would you like to take that back?（你愿意收回那句话吗？）；Can I take that back?（我可以收回那句话吗？）；I take it (all) back.（我把我说过的话（统统）收回。）

■ backtrack

ˈbæktræk

[intransitive]

(~~especially business 尤用于商业~~

~~politics 政治~~)

to change an earlier statement, opinion or promise because of pressure from sb/sth （屈于压力而）改变声明（或主张），出尔反尔；退缩

◆The trade unions have had to backtrack on their main demand.工会不得不改变了主要的诉求。

■ ˌgo ˈback on sth

phrasal verb

(

goes

, sent