—
To break cover,
to burst forth from a protecting concealment, as game when hunted. — To break
a deer or 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.