2break noun
plural breaks 1 [count] a : a crack, hole, etc., that is caused by damage, injury, or pressure
▪ The tank is reinforced to prevent breaks and leaks. ▪ The break [=fracture] in her arm will take months to heal. ▪ Watch out for breaks [=(more commonly) cracks] in the ice.
b : an opening or space in something
▪ There was a break [=gap] in the clouds. : an opening that makes it possible for someone or something to enter or pass through something ▪ There was a break in the hedge/fence. ▪ We waited for a break in the traffic. 2 [count] : something that causes a change or interruption
▪ She gets upset over any little break in her routine. [=anything that changes/interrupts her routine] ▪ The fields extend for miles without a break. 3 [count] a : a time when something stops
▪ It has rained for five days without a break. [=it has been raining constantly for five days] ▪ We chatted during a break in the game. ▪ It rained all day. We waited for a break in the weather [=we waited for a time when the rain stopped], but it never came.
b : a brief period of time during which someone stops an activity
▪ I'm tired. Let's take a break. [=let's stop doing whatever we are doing for a short period of time] ▪ It was a long drive, but we took lots of breaks. [=we briefly stopped driving many times] ▪ a bathroom break [=a brief period of time when you stop doing something in order to use a bathroom] ; especially : a brief period of time during which a worker is allowed to rest, eat, etc., instead of working
▪ All employees are entitled to two breaks during the workday. ▪ We've been working all day without a break. ▪ It's only five minutes until break time. [=the time when workers are supposed to stop working for a brief period of time] — see also coffee break, lunch break
c : a longer period of time when someone is not working or doing some other activity
▪ The long weekend provided her with a much-needed break (from her job).
d : a time when many people are not working or going to school because of a holiday, vacation, etc.
▪ She went home to visit her parents during (the) winter break. ▪ What are your plans for (the) Thanksgiving break? — see also spring break 4 [count] : a planned interruption in a radio or television program
▪ a break for a commercial = a commercial break ▪ We'll be back with more after the break. — see also station break 5 [singular] : a sudden fast run : dash
▪ The runner made a break for second base. [=the runner suddenly ran toward second base] ; especially : a fast run by someone who is trying to escape
▪ The prisoner made a (sudden) break for the door. ▪ The prisoner made a break for it/freedom and got away. — see also jailbreak 6 [count] : a situation or event that is lucky or unlucky
▪ a series of unlucky/bad breaks ▪ Finding a hotel with a vacancy and low prices was a lucky/good break for us. ; especially : a lucky situation or event that makes success possible
▪ She's still hoping to get her big/lucky break in show business. ▪ She got the breaks she needed to succeed. ▪ She gets all the breaks. [=she is very lucky] ▪ For the team to succeed, all the breaks will have to go their way. [=they will have to be lucky] ▪ (US) I just can't seem to catch a break. [=I am unlucky; I never have good luck] ◊Informal expressions like those are the breaks and that's the breaks mean that something bad or unlucky should be thought of or accepted as the kind of thing that often happens to people.
▪ I'm disappointed that I didn't get the job, but those are the breaks. I'll keep trying. 7 [count] : something that helps a particular person or group
▪ Can you give me a break on the price? = Can I get a break on the price? [=can you lower the price for me?] ▪ People with small children are being given a tax break. [=are being required to pay less in taxes than other people] 8 [singular] a : a sudden ending of a relationship
▪ The crisis has caused a break (in diplomatic relations) between the two countries. ▪ If you don't want to keep dating him, you should just make a clean break [=you should end your relationship quickly] instead of dragging it out. ▪ She talked about leaving her husband for years, but she never found the courage to make the break.
b : a change from what was done before — usually + with or from ▪ We need to make a clean break with the past. [=we need to stop doing things as they were done in the past and start doing them in a completely new way] ▪ The company has made a sharp break with tradition. ▪ Her latest novel marks a complete break with/from her earlier fiction. [=her latest novel is completely different from her earlier fiction] 9 [noncount] literary — used in the phrase break of day to refer to the time of morning when the sun can first be seen ▪ We left at (the) break of day. [=(more commonly) dawn, sunrise, daybreak] 10 [count] : a sharp change in the tone or pitch of someone's voice
▪ There was a break [=(more commonly) crack] in her voice as she said goodbye. 11 [noncount] sports : a curve in the path of a thrown or hit ball
▪ The batter was fooled completely by the break on the pitch. ▪ The putt had a lot of break. [=the putt curved a lot] 12 [count] tennis : the act defeating an opponent who is serving
▪ a service break
▪ The tank is reinforced to prevent breaks and leaks. ▪ The break [=fracture] in her arm will take months to heal. ▪ Watch out for breaks [=(more commonly) cracks] in the ice.
b : an opening or space in something
▪ There was a break [=gap] in the clouds. : an opening that makes it possible for someone or something to enter or pass through something ▪ There was a break in the hedge/fence. ▪ We waited for a break in the traffic.
▪ She gets upset over any little break in her routine. [=anything that changes/interrupts her routine] ▪ The fields extend for miles without a break.
▪ It has rained for five days without a break. [=it has been raining constantly for five days] ▪ We chatted during a break in the game. ▪ It rained all day. We waited for a break in the weather [=we waited for a time when the rain stopped], but it never came.
b : a brief period of time during which someone stops an activity
▪ I'm tired. Let's take a break. [=let's stop doing whatever we are doing for a short period of time] ▪ It was a long drive, but we took lots of breaks. [=we briefly stopped driving many times] ▪ a bathroom break [=a brief period of time when you stop doing something in order to use a bathroom] ; especially : a brief period of time during which a worker is allowed to rest, eat, etc., instead of working
▪ All employees are entitled to two breaks during the workday. ▪ We've been working all day without a break. ▪ It's only five minutes until break time. [=the time when workers are supposed to stop working for a brief period of time] — see also coffee break, lunch break
c : a longer period of time when someone is not working or doing some other activity
▪ The long weekend provided her with a much-needed break (from her job).
d : a time when many people are not working or going to school because of a holiday, vacation, etc.
▪ She went home to visit her parents during (the) winter break. ▪ What are your plans for (the) Thanksgiving break? — see also spring break
▪ a break for a commercial = a commercial break ▪ We'll be back with more after the break. — see also station break
▪ The runner made a break for second base. [=the runner suddenly ran toward second base] ; especially : a fast run by someone who is trying to escape
▪ The prisoner made a (sudden) break for the door. ▪ The prisoner made a break for it/freedom and got away. — see also jailbreak
▪ a series of unlucky/bad breaks ▪ Finding a hotel with a vacancy and low prices was a lucky/good break for us. ; especially : a lucky situation or event that makes success possible
▪ She's still hoping to get her big/lucky break in show business. ▪ She got the breaks she needed to succeed. ▪ She gets all the breaks. [=she is very lucky] ▪ For the team to succeed, all the breaks will have to go their way. [=they will have to be lucky] ▪ (US) I just can't seem to catch a break. [=I am unlucky; I never have good luck] ◊Informal expressions like those are the breaks and that's the breaks mean that something bad or unlucky should be thought of or accepted as the kind of thing that often happens to people.
▪ I'm disappointed that I didn't get the job, but those are the breaks. I'll keep trying.
▪ Can you give me a break on the price? = Can I get a break on the price? [=can you lower the price for me?] ▪ People with small children are being given a tax break. [=are being required to pay less in taxes than other people]
▪ The crisis has caused a break (in diplomatic relations) between the two countries. ▪ If you don't want to keep dating him, you should just make a clean break [=you should end your relationship quickly] instead of dragging it out. ▪ She talked about leaving her husband for years, but she never found the courage to make the break.
b : a change from what was done before — usually + with or from ▪ We need to make a clean break with the past. [=we need to stop doing things as they were done in the past and start doing them in a completely new way] ▪ The company has made a sharp break with tradition. ▪ Her latest novel marks a complete break with/from her earlier fiction. [=her latest novel is completely different from her earlier fiction]
▪ There was a break [=(more commonly) crack] in her voice as she said goodbye.
▪ The batter was fooled completely by the break on the pitch. ▪ The putt had a lot of break. [=the putt curved a lot]
▪ a service break
give me a break
informal 1 — used to tell someone to stop bothering you or treating you unfairly ▪ “Aren't you finished yet?” “Give me a break! I only started 10 minutes ago!” 2 — used to say that you do not believe or are disgusted about what someone has said or done ▪ “He says he went Harvard.” “Give me a break! I doubt he even graduated from high school!” ▪ He wants more money? Give me a break! [=it's ridiculous/outrageous that he wants more money]
give (someone) a break
: to stop treating (someone) in a strict or harsh way
▪ Don't criticize him so much. He's doing the best he can. Why don't you give him a break?
▪ Don't criticize him so much. He's doing the best he can. Why don't you give him a break?
