Chapter Brazilin to Break of B by Webster's Dictionary (1913 Edition)

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To break cover, to burst forth from a protecting concealment, as game when hunted. — To break a deeror stag, to cut it up and apportion the parts among those entitled to a share. — To break fast, to partake of food after abstinence. See Breakfast. — To break ground. (a) To open the earth as for planting; to commence excavation, as for building, siege operations, and the like; as, to break ground for a foundation, a canal, or a railroad. (b) Fig.: To begin to execute any plan. (c) (Naut.) To release the anchor from the bottom. — To break the heart, to crush or overwhelm (one) with grief. — To break a house (Law), to remove or set aside with violence and a felonious intent any part of a house or of the fastenings provided to secure it. — To break the ice, to get through first difficulties; to overcome obstacles and make a beginning; to introduce a subject. — To break jail, to escape from confinement in jail, usually by forcible means. — To break a jest, to utter a jest. "Patroclus . . . the livelong day breaks scurril jests." Shak. — To break joints, to lay or arrange bricks, shingles, etc., so that the joints in one course shall not coincide with those in the preceding course. — To break a lance, to engage in a tilt or contest. — To break the neck, to dislocate the joints of the neck. — To break no squares, to create no trouble. [Obs.] — To break a path, road, etc., to open a way through obstacles by force or labor. — To break upon a wheel, to execute or torture, as a criminal by stretching him upon a wheel, and breaking his limbs with an iron bar; — a mode of punishment formerly employed in some countries. — To break wind, to give vent to wind from the anus.

Syn. — To dispart; rend; tear; shatter; batter; violate; infringe; demolish; destroy; burst; dislocate.

Break
(Break) v. i.

1. To come apart or divide into two or more pieces, usually with suddenness and violence; to part; to burst asunder.

2. To open spontaneously, or by pressure from within, as a bubble, a tumor, a seed vessel, a bag.

Else the bottle break, and the wine runneth out.
Math. ix. 17.

3. To burst forth; to make its way; to come to view; to appear; to dawn.

The day begins to break, and night is fled.
Shak.

And from the turf a fountain broke,
and gurgled at our feet.
Wordsworth.

4. To burst forth violently, as a storm.

The clouds are still above; and, while I speak,
A second deluge o'er our head may break.
Dryden.

5. To open up; to be scattered; to be dissipated; as, the clouds are breaking.

At length the darkness begins to break.
Macaulay.

6. To become weakened in constitution or faculties; to lose health or strength.

See how the dean begins to break;
Poor gentleman! he droops apace.
Swift.

7. To be crushed, or overwhelmed with sorrow or grief; as, my heart is breaking.

8. To fall in business; to become bankrupt.

He that puts all upon adventures doth oftentimes break, and come to poverty.
Bacn.

9. To make an abrupt or sudden change; to change the gait; as, to break into a run or gallop.