break

A2 · Elementary

v. to stop functioning correctly.

v. to cease to function properly due to mechanical or electronic failure.

日本語:壊れる※

“My old washing machine finally decided to break right before the weekend.”

“If the cooling system were to break during the experiment, the entire batch of chemicals would be ruined.”

A2 · Elementary Law

v. to do something that is not allowed by a law or a rule.

v. to violate or fail to observe a law, agreement, or regulation.

日本語:破る※

“You should never break the speed limit, even if you are in a hurry.”

“The company was fined heavily after investigators discovered they had chosen to break several environmental regulations over the last decade.”

B2 · Upper Intermediate

v. to be the first person to tell someone important or surprising news.

v. to disclose or make known a piece of news or information for the first time.

“I had to break the news to him that the flight was cancelled.”

“The journalist worked through the night to ensure her agency would be the first to break the story of the merger.”

B1 · Intermediate Sports

v. to do something better or faster than the previous best result.

v. to surpass a previously established numerical record or limit.

“The young athlete managed to break the world record for the 100-metre sprint.”

“Economists predict that inflation will break the five-percent barrier before the end of the fiscal quarter.”

A1 · Beginner Countable noun

n. a short period of time when you stop working or studying to rest.

n. a temporary cessation of activity or work intended for rest or refreshment.

“Let's take a ten-minute break and get some coffee before we finish the project.”

“The schedule allows for a brief lunch break between the morning keynote and the afternoon workshops.”

B1 · Intermediate Countable noun Medicine

n. a place where something has cracked or separated into pieces.

n. a physical separation or fracture in an object or a bone.

“The X-ray showed a clean break in his arm that would take weeks to heal.”

“The engineer identified a microscopic break in the fuel line that had caused the pressure to drop.”

B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun Informal

n. a sudden piece of good luck that helps you succeed.

n. a sudden stroke of luck or a favourable opportunity, especially in one's career.

“She finally got her big break when a famous director saw her perform in a small play.”

“After years of struggling in the tech industry, his big break came when a venture capitalist invested in his startup.”

C1 · Advanced Countable noun Music Technical

n. a short part of a song where the singing stops and the drums or instruments play alone.

n. a short instrumental or percussion solo within a musical composition, often used as a transition.

“The crowd started dancing wildly during the drum break in the middle of the track.”

“The DJ looped the percussion break to create a rhythmic foundation for the dancers to showcase their skills.”

B2 · Upper Intermediate Slang

v. to perform a style of street dance with athletic moves.

v. to perform breakdancing, a style of acrobatic street dance.

“He learned how to break by watching videos of street performers in the city.”

“The competition featured several crews who had travelled across the country to break for the national title.”