1
as in shattered
forcibly separated into many pieces
a broken vase that could not be repaired
2
as in jagged
having an uneven edge or outline
the broken rim of the antique vase greatly reduces its value
3
as in uneven
not having a level or smooth surface
that portion of the hiking trail consists of a long, broken mountain ridge
past participle of break
1
as in fractured
to cause to separate into pieces usually suddenly or forcibly
hated telling her that I had broken her favorite glass vase
2
as in stopped
to bring (as an action or operation) to an immediate end
the final vote broke the deadlock
3
as in demoted
to bring to a lower grade or rank
the captain was broken to lieutenant commander for disobeying a direct order from his group commander
4
as in deciphered
to change (as a secret message) from code into ordinary language
Alan Turing and the Bletchley Park mathematicians broke the Enigma code being used by the Nazis
5
as in paused
to come to a temporary halt in one's activity
she broke from her ruminations to find that it was already dinnertime
6
as in plowed
to cut into and turn over the sod of (a piece of land) using a bladed implement
farmers once broke fields with horse-drawn plows
7
as in violated
to fail to keep
had to confess that he had broken his promise not to share their conversation with anyone
8
as in solved
to find an answer for through reasoning
Professor Bates broke the problem when she realized that it was possible to synthesize the necessary compounds
9
as in damaged
to reduce the soundness, effectiveness, or perfection of
I broke a tooth on the hard candy
10
as in stalled
to stop functioning
after working for 30 years, the pump simply broke one day
11
as in bolted
to hasten away from something dangerous or frightening
the herd of gazelles broke when they saw the lions racing toward them from the ridge above
12
as in worn
to use up all the physical energy of
the trek up the mountain just about broke me
13
as in spread
to become known
as soon as the scandal broke, the CEO fled the country
14
as in ruined
to cause to lose one's fortune and become unable to pay one's debts
another bad investment could break him
15
as in originated
to come into existence
the crisis had passed, and a new day was breaking
16
as in veered
to depart abruptly from a straight line or course
the running back broke to his left before running out of bounds
17
as in reduced
to diminish the price or value of
distressing economic news that will break many energy stocks
18
as in exceeded
to go beyond the limit of
a menu with prices that is likely to break the budgets of all but the wealthiest of diners
19
as in emerged
to penetrate the surface (as of water) from below
dolphins were breaking all around the boat
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Merriam-Webster unabridged
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