housebreak

verb

house·​break ˈhau̇s-ˌbrāk 

housebroke ˈhau̇s-ˌbrōk  ; housebroken ˈhau̇s-ˌbrō-kən  ; housebreaking

transitive verb

1

: to make housebroken

2

a

: to teach acceptable social manners to

b

: tame, subdue

Examples of housebreak in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Sullivan compared her work with Keller to housebreaking a dog. — Elizabeth Engelman, New York Times, 26 May 2017

Word History

Etymology

back-formation from housebroken

First Known Use

1876, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for housebreak

• overtake
• rattlesnake
• shiitake
• undertake
• wapentake
• ache
• ake
• bake
• brake
• break
• cake
• craik

Kids Definition

housebreak

verb

house·​break -ˌbrāk 

housebroke; housebroken; housebreaking

: to make housebroken

Medical Definition

housebreak

transitive verb

house·​break ˈhau̇s-ˌbrāk 

housebroke -ˌbrōk  ; housebroken -ˌbrō-kən  ; housebreaking

: to make housebroken