break

n. countable

A1 Beginner Oxford US //ˈbɹeɪk// UK //bɹˈeɪk// break

Archaic General-service Informal Slang

n. a short time when you stop what you are doing to rest, eat, or relax. For example, many jobs include a coffee break in the morning.

n. a short interruption of an activity, typically for rest or refreshment. It often refers to a scheduled pause during work, school, or another structured event.

SIMPLE

Let's take a short break.

CONTEXTUAL

The students play outside during their morning break.

COMPLEX

After three hours of intense negotiation, the diplomats agreed to a brief break to consult with their respective governments before reconvening.

Synonyms

Antonyms

Etymology 1

From Middle English breken, from Old English brecan (“to break”), from Proto-West Germanic brekan, from Proto-Germanic brekaną (“to break”), from Proto-Indo-European *bʰreg- (“to break”). Doublet of bray. Cognates Cognates of Germanic origin include Scots brek (“to break”), West Frisian brekke (“to break”), Dutch breken (“to break”), Low German breken (“to break”), German brechen (“to break”), French broyer (“to crush, grind”), Gothic 𐌱𐍂𐌹𐌺𐌰𐌽 (brikan, “to break, destroy”), Norwegian brek (“desire, yearning”). Also cognate with Albanian brishtë (“fragile”), Latin frangō (“break, break up, shatter”, verb), whence English fracture and other terms – fragile, frail, fraction, and fragment. The modern pronunciation shows an irregular change of Early Modern English /ɛː/ to /eɪ/ in the standard language; contrast this with the development of other words such as speak and wreak.

Etymology 2

Clipping of breakdown (the percussion break of songs chosen by a DJ for use in hip-hop music) and see also breakdancing.

Usage

Commonly used in collocations with verbs like 'take' or 'have' (e.g., 'take a break').

Idioms45 entries