# breaking

/ˈbɹeɪkɪŋ/ (US) · /bɹˈeɪkɪŋ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/breaking
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. fracturing or snapping

noun · CEFR B1

the act of something snapping, cracking, or coming apart into pieces.

For teachers: the physical act of fracturing or the state of being broken into parts.

- The breaking of the window glass made a loud noise in the quiet street.
- The sudden breaking of the structural supports caused the entire roof to collapse before the workers could evacuate the site.

### 2. street dance

noun · CEFR B2 · Informal

a style of energetic street dance that includes floor moves and spinning.

For teachers: a style of acrobatic hip-hop dance, often performed to breakbeats, involving intricate footwork and floor-based power moves.

- He started breaking in the park with his friends every Saturday afternoon.
- The inclusion of breaking in international sporting competitions has sparked debate about whether it should be judged as an art form or an athletic discipline.

### 3. vowel change

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

when a single vowel sound changes into two sounds in a word.

For teachers: the sound change where a monophthong develops into a diphthong under the influence of a following consonant or vowel.

- The teacher explained how breaking changed certain words in Old English.
- Linguists study breaking to understand how the vowel systems of Germanic languages evolved over several centuries.

### 4. musical ornamentation

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

playing several short notes instead of one long note.

For teachers: a method of ornamentation where a long note is divided into a sequence of shorter, faster notes.

- The flute player used breaking to make the simple melody sound more complex.
- In Baroque performance practice, breaking allowed soloists to demonstrate their technical virtuosity by elaborating on the written score.

## Examples

- He started breaking in the local park with his friends.
- The competition features several categories, including a solo breaking battle where dancers are judged on their rhythm and power moves.
- Originally a grassroots expression of urban identity, breaking has evolved into a globally recognized sport that emphasizes both technical athleticism and rhythmic creativity.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.