BREAK

Definitions

1. 1. To strain apart; to sever by fracture; to divide with violence; as, to break a rope or chain; to break a seal; to break an axle; to break rocks or coal; to break a lock. Shak.
2. 2. To lay open as by breaking; to divide; as, to break a package of goods.
3. 3. To lay open, as a purpose; to disclose, divulge, or communicate. Katharine, break thy mind to me. Shak.
4. 4. To infringe or violate, as an obligation, law, or promise. Out, out, hyena! these are thy wonted arts . . . To break all faith, all vows, deceive, betray. Milton
5. 5. To interrupt; to destroy the continuity of; to dissolve or terminate; as, to break silence; to break one's sleep; to break one's journey. Go, release them, Ariel; My charms I'll break, their senses I'll restore. Shak.
6. 6. To destroy the completeness of; to remove a part from; as, to break a set.
7. 7. To destroy the arrangement of; to throw into disorder; to pierce; as, the cavalry were not able to break the British squares.
8. 8. To shatter to pieces; to reduce to fragments. The victim broke in pieces the musical instruments with which he had solaced the hours of captivity. Prescott.
9. 9. To exchange for other money or currency of smaller denomination; as, to break a five dollar bill.
10. 10. To destroy the strength, firmness, or consistency of; as, to break flax.
11. 11. To weaken or impair, as health, spirit, or mind. An old man, broken with the storms of state. Shak.
12. 12. To diminish the force of; to lessen the shock of, as a fall or blow. I'll rather leap down first, and break your fall. Dryden.
13. 13. To impart, as news or information; to broach; -- with to, and often with a modified word implying some reserve; as, to break the news gently to the widow; to break a purpose cautiously to a friend.
14. 14. To tame; to reduce to subjection; to make tractable; to discipline; as, to break a horse to the harness or saddle. "To break a colt." Spenser. Why, then thou canst not break her to the lute Shak.
15. 15. To destroy the financial credit of; to make bankrupt; to ruin. With arts like these rich Matho, when he speaks, Attracts all fees, and little lawyers breaks. Dryden.
16. 16. To destroy the official character and standing of; to cashier; to dismiss. I see a great officer broken. Swift.