break
verb uk/breɪk/ us/breɪk/ broke | broken
(DAMAGE)
A2 [ I or T ]破碎，破裂；打破；打断；损坏，弄坏
to (cause something to) separate suddenly or violently into two or more pieces, or to (cause something to) stop working by being damaged
The dish fell to the floor and broke. 碟子掉到地上摔碎了。
Charles is always breaking things. 查尔斯老是打碎东西。
She fell and broke her arm (= broke the bone in her arm). 她摔断了胳膊。
I dropped the vase and it broke into pieces. 我把花瓶掉在地上摔碎了。
I think I've broken your phone. 我想我弄坏了你的电话。
I picked it up and the handle broke off. 我把它捡了起来，可手柄断了。
We heard the sound of breaking glass. 我们听见玻璃破碎的声音。
- More examples
- Take an egg and break it into the bowl.
- I've broken my leg, but the doctor says that it's a clean break, so it should heal easily.
- If you force the zip, it'll break.
- Things got a little wild at the party and three windows were broken.
- His mother scolded him for breaking her favourite vase.
(END)
B2 [ I or T ]毁坏，打破;结束，终结
to destroy or end something, or to come to an end
Eventually someone spoke, breaking the silence. 最后终于有人开口打破了沉默。
She laughed and that broke the tension. 她大笑起来，打破了紧张气氛。
The enemy were unable to break the code (= understand it and so make it useless). 敌人无法破译密码。
Outside workers were brought in in an attempt to break (= end) the strike. 外面的工人被调进来以结束罢工。
break a/the recordB2 打破纪录
to do something better than the best known speed, time, number, etc. previously achieved
She broke the record for the 5,000 metres. 她打破了5000米的纪录。
- More examples
- The routine was the same every day, with nothing to break the monotony.
- A thrush's song was the only sound to break the silence.
- She managed to decipher/break/crack the code.
- I'm trying to get him to break the habit of switching on the TV when he comes home at night.
- She came perilously close to getting herself killed in her attempt to break the world record.
(NOT OBEY)
B2 [ T ]破坏；违反；违背
to fail to keep a law, rule, or promise
He didn't know he was breaking the law (= doing something illegal). 他不知道自己的行为是犯法的。
She broke her promise/word to me (= did not do what she promised she would). 她违背了对我的诺言。
- More examples
- They connived to break the school rules at every opportunity.
- She seems to think that it's perfectly all right to break the law.
- She is at worst corrupt, and at best has been knowingly breaking the rules.
- He broke his promise and there wasn't a thing we could do about it.
- They broke with convention by giving up their jobs and becoming self-sufficient.
(DIVIDE)
[ I or T, + adv/prep ]分散；分开；分解
to (cause something to) divide into two or more parts or groups
These enzymes break down food in the stomach (= cause food to separate into smaller pieces). 这些酶在胃中分解食物。
I asked her to break her expenses down into food, travel and personal costs. 我叫她把日常开支细分为食品、旅行和个人花销。
- More examples
- An enzyme in the saliva of the mouth starts the process of breaking down the food.
- Vitamin B6 helps build and break down carbohydrates, fats, and protein, and aids in the formation and maintenance of the nervous system.
- The syllabus is broken down into four main areas: reading, writing, listening and speaking.
- The story is broken down into little bits of text to help children read it themselves.
- It's much easier if you break down large projects into a series of small tasks.
(INTERRUPT)
B1 [ T ]打断;中断，中止
to interrupt or to stop something for a short period
We usually break for lunch at 12.30. 我们通常12点半休息吃午饭。
I needed something to break the monotony of my typing job. 我需要做点什么来打发打字工作的单调。
The phone rang, breaking my concentration. 电话铃响了，打断了我的注意。
UK They decided to break their journey in Singapore. 他们决定在新加坡稍作停留。
- More examples
- Sara says she needs a clean break with the past.
- I need a break, a complete change of scene.
- I see it's approaching lunchtime, so let's take a break.
- During the break between games, she had a drink of water and wiped the perspiration off her face and arms with a towel.
- You shouldn't drive for more than three hours without taking a break.
(USE FORCE)
C2 [ I or T, usually + adv/prep ]急冲；猛闯；突破
to go somewhere or do something by force
He threatened to break the door down (= enter using force). 他威胁要砸门进来。
The horse tried to break free from its stable. 那匹马想从马厩里挣脱出去。
In the storm the boat broke loose from its moorings. 暴风雨中船脱开了缆绳。
The thieves broke the safe open and stole the diamonds. 盗贼撬开保险箱偷走了钻石。
The police broke up the fight (= ended it forcefully). 警方强行制止了打斗。
She broke his grip and ran away. 她用力挣脱了他的手，跑开了。
(EMOTION)
[ I or T ]（使）（自控能力、信心、意志等）崩溃
to lose your confidence, determination, or ability to control yourself, or to make someone do this
He thought she would break under the strain. 他觉得她在压力之下会崩溃的。
They tried to break his will (= make him lose his control) but he resisted. 他们企图使他失去自控，但他顶住了。
(BECOME KNOWN)
C2 [ I or T ]暴露，泄漏;透露;传开
to become known or to make something become known
When the scandal broke (= came to the public's attention), the CEO resigned immediately. 丑闻曝光后，首席执行官立刻辞职了。
It was the local newspaper that first broke the story (= told the public). 是当地的报纸首先披露了这件事。
(WAVES)
[ I usually + adv/prep ]（波浪）拍岸，迸溅
(of waves) to reach and move over the beach, hit a cliff or wall, etc.
A huge wave broke on/against the shore/over the boat. 一个大浪打在岸边／冲上了轮船。
(WEATHER)
C2 [ I ]（天气）骤变
(of the weather) to change suddenly and usually become worse
The forecast is for the hot weather to break today. 天气预报说炎热的天气将在今天发生骤变。
(STORM)
C2 [ I ]（风暴）突起
(of a storm) to start suddenly
We arrived just as a storm was breaking. 我们抵达时正是风暴突起之时。
(DAY)
dawn/day breaks （晨光）初现;（天）破晓
When dawn or day breaks, the sun starts to appear in the sky early in the morning.
Dawn broke over the city. 城市上空，天光破晓。
(VOICE)
[ I ]变嗓
When a boy's voice breaks it begins to sound like a man's.
His voice broke when he was 13. 他是13岁的时候变嗓的。
[ I ]（嗓音）改变
If someone's voice breaks, it changes because of strong emotions.
Her voice was breaking with emotion as she pleaded for her child's return. 当她苦苦哀求让她的孩子回来时激动得嗓音都变了调。
(TENNIS)
break serve （网球比赛中）破发球
(in tennis) to win a game in which another player is serving (= hitting the ball first)
Nadal broke Cilic's serve in the second set. 纳达尔在第二盘中破了契利奇的发球局。
(FOOTBALL)
[ I ]（足球比赛中）反击
If a football team breaks, it gets the ball in its own half and attacks quickly into the opposing team's half.
Blues broke quickly, catching Wolves on the back foot. 蓝队（切尔西队）快速反击，打了狼队（伍尔弗汉普顿流浪队）一个措手不及。
Idioms More idioms
break your backidiom informal 拼命工作
to work extremely hard
He broke his back to get the project done on time. 为了能按时完成项目他拼命工作。
break someone's heartidiom B2 让…伤透了心
to make someone who loves you very sad, usually by telling that person you have stopped loving them
He's broken a lot of girls' hearts. 他令许多女孩伤心欲绝。
B2 使…忧伤，使…难过
If an event or situation breaks your heart, it makes you feel very sad.
She really broke her mother's heart when she left home. 她离家出走真的伤了她母亲的心。
break breadidiom old use吃饭，进餐
to eat a meal
领圣餐
to take Holy Communion
break coveridiom 从隐蔽处突然出来，冲出躲藏处
When an animal or person breaks cover, they run out of a hiding place.
break down barriersidiom 扫除障碍，打破藩篱
to improve understanding and communication between people who have different opinions
The talks were meant to break down barriers between the two groups. 谈判旨在消除双方意见的分歧。
break evenidiom C1 收支平衡;（尤指商业活动）不赚不赔
to have no profit or loss at the end of a business activity
After paying for our travel costs, we barely (= only just) broke even. 在付完旅行费用后我们刚好收支平衡。
break fresh/new groundidiom C2 开辟新天地，创新；作出新发现
to do or discover something new
This recovery technique breaks new ground. 这种康复技术是一项创新。
break it up!idiom informal 散开，住手，别打架啦
said to stop people fighting
Break it up, you two! 你们俩别打了！
break it/the news to someoneidiom C2 把不好的消息告诉…
to tell someone about something unpleasant that will affect or upset them
Come on, what happened? Break it to me gently (= in a kind way). 究竟发生了什么事？好好地告诉我吧。
I didn't want to be the one to break the news to him. 我可不想把这种消息告诉他。
break a legidiom informal用来祝对方好运（特别是在上台演出之前）
used for wishing someone good luck, especially before a performance
break ranksidiom 与（同一阵营的人）意见不合;与…分道扬镳
to publicly show disagreement or criticism of the group that you belong to
His medical colleagues advised him not to break ranks by talking about the hospital's problems to the newspapers. 他的医院同事劝他不要公开表示不满，向报纸谈论医院的问题。
break the back of somethingidiom UK 完成绝大（或最艰难的）部分
to get most or the worst part of a particular task done
We've broken the back of it now and we should be finished by Friday. 我们现在已经完成了绝大部分，星期五之前应该能全部完成。
break the bankidiom humorous 太贵，花钱太多
to cost too much
It only costs $2. That's not going to break the bank. 只花了两英镑，不算太贵。
break the iceidiom informalB2 打破冷场
to make people who have not met before feel more relaxed with each other
Someone suggested that we play a party game to break the ice. 有人建议我们玩一个集体游戏来打破沉默。
See also: icebreaker
break the mouldidiom UK (US break the mold) 打破常规
to be new and different
Their approach to sports teaching broke the mould. 他们的体育教学方法打破了常规。
break windidiom 放屁
to release gas from the bowels through the bottom
breaking and enteringidiom （尤指为偷窃）非法破门侵入
illegally forcing your way into a house, especially to steal something
Phrasal verbs More phrasal verbs
break away 逃跑;挣脱
to leave or to escape from someone who is holding you
He grabbed her, but she managed to break away. 他抓住她，可她设法挣脱了。
figurative One or two of the tourists broke away from the tour group. 有一两个游客退出了旅游团。
脱离;决裂
to stop being part of a group because you begin to disagree with the people in the group
Some members of the party broke away to form a rival party. 该党派的一些成员脱离出去，组成了对立政党。
break downB2 （机器或车辆）出故障
If a machine or vehicle breaks down, it stops working.
Our car broke down and we had to push it off the road. 我们的汽车抛锚了，我们只好把它推到路旁。
（系统或关系）崩溃，瓦解;（讨论）失败
If a system, relationship, or discussion breaks down, it fails because there is a problem or disagreement.
（情绪）崩溃;忍不住哭了起来
to be unable to control your feelings and to start to cry
When we gave her the bad news, she broke down and cried. 当我们告诉她这个坏消息时，她忍不住哭了起来。
break someone in 训练…;培训…
If you break someone in, you train them to do a new job or activity.
The boss did not believe in breaking his team in gently. 老板并不认可逐步培训员工的方式。
break something in 使（新物件等）经使用后逐渐合用;磨合
to wear new shoes or use new equipment for short periods to make them more comfortable
My new hiking boots will be great once I've broken them in. 我的新爬山靴穿合脚后将会很棒的。
US (UK run something in)（小心缓慢地）试开（新车），使（新车发动机）试转
If you break in a vehicle, you use it carefully and slowly for a short time when it is new, so that you do not damage its engine.
break in/break into somethingB1 闯入，破门而入;强行进入
to get into a building or car using force, usually to steal something
The burglars broke in through the kitchen window. 盗贼从厨房的窗户翻了进来。
My car's been broken into twice this month. 这个月我车上的东西两次被盗。
break in 打断谈话，插嘴
to interrupt when someone else is talking
As she was talking, he suddenly broke in, saying, "That's a lie." 她正在说话时，他突然插嘴道：“撒谎！”
break into something 突然开始做…
to suddenly begin to do something
He felt so happy that he broke into song (= suddenly began to sing). 他高兴得突然唱了起来。
She walked quickly, occasionally breaking into a run (= starting to run). 她快步走着，时而跑几步。
break (something) off 折断；（使）断开；分开
to separate a part from a larger piece, or to become separate
He broke off a piece of chocolate. 他掰了一块巧克力。
B2 绝交;终止（某种关系）
to end a relationship
They've broken off their engagement. 他们终止了婚约。
The governments have broken off diplomatic relations. 这些政府断绝了外交关系。
B2 突然停顿;突然中断
to suddenly stop speaking or doing something
She broke off in the middle of a sentence. 她话说了一半突然打住了。
break outB2 突然发生;爆发
If something dangerous or unpleasant breaks out, it suddenly starts.
War broke out in 1914. 战争于1914年爆发。
Fighting has broken out all over the city. 战斗在全城打响了。
突然开始出现（斑点、红疹、冒汗等）
to suddenly have red marks or sweat appear on your skin
She broke out in a rash after eating some strawberries. 她吃完草莓后身上突然开始出红疹。
It didn't take much exercise to make him break out in (a) sweat. 他还没怎么运动就开始出汗了。
When I heard the noise I broke out in a cold sweat. 我听见那个声音冒出了一身冷汗。
逃出;越狱
to escape from prison
They broke out of prison and fled the country. 他们越狱逃到了国外。
break through somethingB2 突破；克服，打破
to force yourself through something that is holding you back
Protesters broke through the barriers. 抗议者突破了障碍物。
break something up （把…）分成小块；拆开；分解
to divide into many pieces, or to divide something into many pieces
The company has been broken up and sold off. 公司已经被拆分卖掉了。
break (something) up 解散;散开
If an occasion when people meet breaks up or someone breaks it up, it ends and people start to leave.
The meeting broke up at ten to three. 差10分3点时散会的。
I don't want to break up the party but I have to go now. 我不想离开大家，可我确实得走了。
break upB1 （婚姻）破裂;离婚;分手
If a marriage breaks up or two people in a romantic relationship break up, their marriage or their relationship ends.
Jenny and George have broken up. 珍妮和乔治已经分手了。
She's just broken up with her boyfriend. 她刚和男朋友分手。
B1 UK（学校）放假
When schools and colleges, or the teachers and students who go to them break up, their classes stop and the holidays start .
We broke up for the holidays in June. 我们6月份放假。
（打电话）听不清，聲音斷斷續續
If someone who is talking on a mobile phone is breaking up, their voice can no longer be heard clearly.
break with something 打破，破除（传统、习惯做法等）
to intentionally not continue doing something that is normal, expected, or traditional
We decided to break with tradition and not spend Christmas with our family. 我们决定打破传统，圣诞节不和家人一起过。
The country's leadership is determined to break with past practices and to solve urgent economic problems. 国家的领导层决心打破以前的做法，着力解决迫在眉睫的经济问题。
break
noun uk/breɪk/ us/breɪk/
(INTERRUPTION)
[ C ]中止，中断
an interruption
Finally there was a break in the rain and we went out. 雨终于停了，我们都出来了。
[ C ] mainly UK广告时间
the short period of advertisements between television programmes
I'll make us a cup of tea in the next break. 下次插播广告时我去给大家泡杯茶。
A2 [ C ]休息；（用茶点的）休息时间
a short period of rest, when food or drink is sometimes eaten
a coffee break 喝咖啡的休息时间
UK a tea break 茶歇
a lunch/dinner break 午／晚餐时间
We'll take another break at 3.30. 我们三点半再休息一次。
They worked through the night without a break. 他们连续工作了一个晚上。
Do you usually take a morning/afternoon break? 你通常上午／下午中间休息吗？
[ U ] mainly UK (also break time)课间休息
the regular time in the middle of the morning or afternoon, for school students to talk or play, and sometimes have food or drink
We were talking about it at break. 我们课间休息时在谈论这事。
B1 [ C ]（中断工作或日常活动的）休息时间;假期
a time away from work or your regular activity, or a holiday
Take a couple of weeks off - you need a break. 请两个星期的假吧——你需要休息。
How long is the Christmas break this year? 今年的圣诞假期有多长？
We decided to have a short/spring/winter/weekend break in Paris. 我们决定在巴黎停留一下／休春假／休寒假／度周末。
I'll read your report over (= during) the Christmas break. 我将在圣诞节休假期间看你的报告。
I need a break from typing. 我需要休息一段时间，不打字。
give someone a break 给…一些休息时间;让…有机会搁下日常的活动或工作
to allow someone some time away from their work or regular activities
I babysit every Friday to give her a break. 每周五我都负责照看孩子，好给她一点休息的时间。
- More examples
- Sara says she needs a clean break with the past.
- I need a break, a complete change of scene.
- I see it's approaching lunchtime, so let's take a break.
- During the break between games, she had a drink of water and wiped the perspiration off her face and arms with a towel.
- You shouldn't drive for more than three hours without taking a break.
(OPPORTUNITY)
C2 [ C ]机会；机缘；好运
an opportunity for improving a situation, especially one that happens unexpectedly
Her big break came when she was offered a role in a Spielberg movie. 她在斯皮尔伯格执导的影片中得到了一个角色，她的机会来了。
(DAMAGE)
C1 [ C ]破裂；裂口，裂缝
a place where something has broken
There's a break in the pipe. 管子上有道裂缝。
(END)
[ C ]毁坏；打破；结束，终结
the end of a relationship, connection, or way of doing something
Their decision to not name their daughter Jane was a break with family tradition. 他们决定不给女儿起名为简，这违背了家族传统。
make a break(also make the break) 与…结束关系（尤指不再住在一起）;改变（一贯的行为）
to stop having a close relationship with someone, especially stop living with them , or to change a course of action that you have had for a long time
You've been in your job for years - it's time you made a break. 那份工作你已干了多年了——是时候改变一下了。
When a relationship ends, it's often best to make a clean/complete break (= suddenly and completely stop seeing each other). 结束一段感情最好是彻底一刀两断。
(SPORT)
[ C ]（网球中的）破发，接发球得分
in tennis, a game won by the player who was not serving (= hitting the ball first)
Murray must get another break (of serve) to win. 穆雷必须再破对方一个发球局才能赢。
[ C ]（斯诺克和台球中的）一杆得分，一次连续得分
in snooker and billiards, the number of points that a player gets during one turn at hitting the balls
[ S ]（足球比赛中的）反击
in football, an occasion when a defending team gains possession of the ball in its own half and attacks quickly into the opposing team's half
(ESCAPE)
make a break (from/for) （常指用暴力）逃离，逃脱
to escape from/towards somewhere or something, often by force
A group of prisoners made a break from the jail a few years back. 几年前一群犯人越狱逃跑了。
The cat made a break for the door. 那只猫向门口跑去。
When he let go, I made a break for it (= escaped quickly). 他一放开我，我马上就遛了。
See also: breakout noun
(MORNING)
break of day[ U ] literary 破晓
the time when the sun rises in the morning
We set out at break of day. 我们破晓时分出发。
See also: daybreak