breaks

Noun

break (plural breaks)

1. An instance of breaking something into two or more pieces.
   • The femur has a clean break and so should heal easily.

   Synonyms:

   split

2. A physical space that opens up in something or between two things.
   • The sun came out in a break in the clouds.

   Synonyms:

   breach, gap, space, interlapse, interspace, interstice, interstitium, opening, separation, hole

3. An interruption of continuity; departure from or rupture with.
   • Work commenced at 2.30 p.m. on Saturday and continued without break until 4 a.m. on Monday morning, in the course of which three shifts of upwards of 90 men each and three steam cranes were employed.1958 June, “New Track Layout and Marshalling Yard at Barking”, in Railway Magazine, page 428
4. A rest or pause, usually from work.
   • Let’s take a five-minute break.

   Synonyms:

   shift break, time-out, breather, cessation, demurral, gap, caesura, hiatus, halt, halting

   1. (UK) A time for students to talk or play between lessons.
      • It was playtime - or rather ‘break’ - and I had brazenly joined in a game of football on the school parade ground.1983, Bill Oddie, Gone Birding, London: Methuen, page 35
   2. A scheduled interval of days or weeks between periods of school instruction; a holiday.
      • winter break, spring break

See all 103 meanings of break