Break vs. Crack — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman & Urooj Arif — Updated on May 5, 2024
"Break" generally refers to a complete separation into parts through force or pressure, whereas "crack" indicates a partial split without full separation.
Difference Between Break and Crack
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Break often implies a complete severance or rupture of an object, often resulting in two or more separate pieces. Whereas, crack suggests a partial fracture or split in an object, typically without breaking it into distinct parts.
Break can apply to both physical and metaphorical situations, such as breaking a bone or a promise. On the other hand, crack usually refers to physical, surface-level damage, like a crack in a wall or glass.
Break conveys a sense of suddenness and completeness in the action. While, crack may develop gradually and might not disrupt the overall integrity or function of an object.
Break is often used to describe significant changes or ends, such as breaking a habit or a relationship. Whereas, crack is more commonly associated with the initial signs of failure or damage, not necessarily leading to a complete breakdown.
Break can result in a change of state, indicating irreversible damage or alteration. On the other hand, crack might not alter the fundamental state or usability of an item, often being cosmetic or superficial in nature.
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Comparison Chart
Definition
Complete separation into parts
Partial split, maintaining some connection
Common Usage
Breaking news, break a leg
Hairline crack, crack in the wall
Severity
Often implies major damage or change
Usually indicates less severe damage
Repairability
Might require extensive repair or replacement
Often repairable or may not need repair
Metaphorical Use
Used to describe significant changes or endings
Rarely used metaphorically
Compare with Definitions
Break
Surpassing a limit.
She managed to break the world record last summer.
Crack
Opening slightly.
He opened the door just a crack to listen.
Break
Complete separation.
He dropped the vase, causing it to break into pieces.
Crack
Small split.
There's a crack in the window.
Break
Interruption or cessation.
We'll take a break after this meeting.
Crack
Achieving partial success.
He finally managed to crack the code.
Break
Ending a situation.
She decided to break off the engagement.
Crack
Making a sharp sound.
The whip crack could be heard in the distance.
Break
Making something known.
They planned to break the news at the party.
Crack
Failing under pressure.
Under intense scrutiny, his composure began to crack.
Break
Separate into pieces as a result of a blow, shock, or strain
The rope broke with a loud snap
Windows in the street were broken by the blast
Crack
To break without complete separation of parts
The mirror cracked.
Break
Interrupt (a continuity, sequence, or course)
The new government broke the pattern of growth
His concentration was broken by a sound
Crack
To break or snap apart
The branch cracked off and fell.
Break
Fail to observe (a law, regulation, or agreement)
The council says it will prosecute traders who break the law
A legally binding contract which can only be broken by mutual consent
Crack
To make a sharp snapping sound
His knees cracked as he sat down.
Break
Crush the emotional strength, spirit, or resistance of
The idea was to better the prisoners, not to break them
Crack
To break down; fail
The defendant's composure finally began to crack.
Break
(of the weather) change suddenly, especially after a fine spell
The weather broke and thunder rumbled through a leaden sky
Crack
To have a mental or physical breakdown
Cracked under the pressure.
Break
(of news or a scandal) suddenly become public
Since the news broke I've received thousands of wonderful letters
Crack
To change sharply in pitch or timbre, as from hoarseness or emotion. Used of the voice.
Break
(chiefly of an attacking player or team, or of a military force) make a rush or dash in a particular direction
Mitchell won possession and broke quickly, allowing Hughes to score
Crack
To move or go rapidly
Was cracking along at 70 miles an hour.
Break
An interruption of continuity or uniformity
The magazine has been published without a break since 1950
Crack
(Chemistry) To break into simpler molecules, often by means of heat or a catalyst.
Break
A pause in work or during an activity or event
I need a break from mental activity
A coffee break
Those returning to work after a career break
Crack
To cause to break without complete separation of parts
The pebble cracked the car's windshield.
Break
A gap or opening
The track bends left through a break in the hedge
He stopped to wait for a break in the traffic
Crack
To cause to break with a sharp snapping sound
Crack nuts.
Break
An instance of breaking something, or the point where something is broken
He was stretchered off with a break to the leg
Crack
To crush (corn or wheat, for example) into small pieces.
Break
A rush or dash in a particular direction, especially by an attacking player or team
Norwich scored on a rare break with 11 minutes left
Crack
To strike, especially with a sharp sound
Cracked the intruder over the head with a lamp.
Break
An opportunity or chance, especially one leading to professional success
He got his break as an entertainer on a TV music hall show
Crack
To cause to come into forceful contact with something, especially with a sharp sound
Fell and cracked his head against the floor.
Break
A consecutive series of successful shots, scoring a specified number of points
A break of 83 put him in front for the first time
Crack
To open to a slight extent
Crack a window to let in some air.
Break
A bud or shoot sprouting from a stem.
Crack
To break open or into
Crack a safe.
Break
Former term for breaking cart
Crack
To open up for use or consumption
Crack a book.
Cracked a beer.
Break
Another term for brake
Crack
To break through (an obstacle) in order to win acceptance or acknowledgment
Finally cracked the "men-only" rule at the club.
Break
To cause to separate into pieces suddenly or violently; smash.
Crack
To discover the solution to, especially after considerable effort
Crack a code.
Break
To divide into pieces, as by bending or cutting
Break crackers for a baby.
Crack
To cause (the voice) to crack.
Break
To separate into components or parts
Broke the work into discrete tasks.
Crack
(Informal) To tell (a joke), especially on impulse or in an effective manner.
Break
To snap off or detach
Broke a twig from the tree.
Crack
To cause to have a mental or physical breakdown.
Break
To cause to undergo a fracture of (a bone, for example)
The impact of the fall broke his leg.
Crack
To impair or destroy
Their rude remarks cracked his equanimity.
Break
To experience a fracture in (a bone, for example)
I broke my wrist when skateboarding.
Crack
To reduce (petroleum) to simpler compounds by cracking.
Break
To crack without separating into pieces
Broke the mirror.
Crack
A partial split or break; a fissure
Cracks in the basement wall.
Break
To destroy the completeness of (a group of related items)
Broke the set of books by giving some away.
Crack
A slight narrow space
The window was open a crack.
Break
To exchange for smaller monetary units
Break a dollar.
Crack
(Informal) The fissure between the buttocks.
Break
To vary or disrupt the uniformity or continuity of
A plain that was broken by low hills.
Caught the ball without breaking stride.
Crack
A defect or flaw
Cracks in the argument.
A crack in his composure.
Break
(Electricity) To render (a circuit) inoperative by disruption; open.
Crack
A sharp snapping sound, such as the report of a firearm.
Break
To open (a shotgun or similar firearm) at the breech, as for loading or cleaning.
Crack
A sharp resounding blow
Gave him a crack on the head.
Break
To force or make a way through; puncture or penetrate
The blade barely broke the skin.
Crack
A breaking, harshly dissonant vocal tone or sound, as in hoarseness.
Break
To part or pierce the surface of
A dolphin breaking water.
Crack
An attempt or try
Gave him a crack at the job.
Took a crack at photography.
Break
To produce (a sweat) copiously on the skin, as from exercise.
Crack
A witty or sarcastic remark.
Break
To force one's way out of; escape from
Break jail.
Crack
A moment; an instant
At the crack of dawn.
Break
To make or bring about by cutting or forcing
Break a trail through the woods.
Crack
(Irish) Fun had when socializing; social amusement.
Break
To find an opening or flaw in
They couldn't break my alibi.
Crack
(Slang) Crack cocaine.
Break
To find the solution or key to; uncover the basic elements and arrangement of
Break a code.
Break a spy ring.
Crack
Excelling in skill or achievement; first-rate
A crack shot.
A crack tennis player.
Break
To make known, as news
Break a story.
Crack
(intransitive) To form cracks.
It's been so dry, the ground is starting to crack.
Break
To surpass or outdo
Broke the league's home-run record.
Crack
(intransitive) To break apart under force, stress, or pressure.
When I tried to stand on the chair, it cracked.
Break
(Sports) To win a game on (an opponent's service), as in tennis.
Crack
(intransitive) To become debilitated by psychological pressure.
Anyone would crack after being hounded like that.
Break
To lessen the force or effect of
Break a fall.
Crack
(intransitive) To break down or yield, especially under interrogation or torture.
When we showed him the pictures of the murder scene, he cracked.
Break
To render useless or inoperative
We accidentally broke the radio.
Crack
(intransitive) To make a cracking sound.
The bat cracked with authority and the ball went for six.
Break
To weaken or destroy, as in spirit or health; overwhelm with adversity
"For a hero loves the world till it breaks him" (William Butler Yeats).
Crack
To change rapidly in register.
His voice cracked with emotion.
Break
To cause the ruin or failure of (an enterprise, for example)
Indiscretion broke both marriage and career.
Crack
To alternate between high and low register in the process of eventually lowering.
His voice finally cracked when he was fourteen.
Break
To reduce in rank; demote.
Crack
(intransitive) To make a sharply humorous comment.
"I would too, with a face like that," she cracked.
Break
To cause to be without money or to go into bankruptcy.
Crack
To realize that one is transgender.
She cracked at age 22 and came out to her friends and family over the next few months.
Break
To fail to fulfill; cancel
Break an engagement.
Crack
(transitive) To make a crack or cracks in.
The ball cracked the window.
Break
To fail to conform to; violate
Break the speed limit.
Crack
(transitive) To break open or crush to small pieces by impact or stress.
You'll need a hammer to crack a black walnut.
Break
(Law) To cause (a will) to be invalidated because of inconsistency with state inheritance laws or as a result of other legal insufficiency.
Crack
(transitive) To strike forcefully.
She cracked him over the head with her handbag.
Break
To give up (a habit).
Crack
(transitive) To open slightly.
Could you please crack the window?
Break
To cause to give up a habit
They managed to break themselves of smoking.
Crack
To cause to yield under interrogation or other pressure.
They managed to crack him on the third day.
Break
To train to obey; tame
The horse was difficult to break.
Crack
To solve a difficult problem.
I've finally cracked it, and of course the answer is obvious in hindsight.
Break
To become separated into pieces or fragments.
Crack
(transitive) To overcome a security system or component.
It took a minute to crack the lock, three minutes to crack the security system, and about twenty minutes to crack the safe.
They finally cracked the code.
Break
To become cracked or split.
Crack
(transitive) To cause to make a sharp sound.
To crack a whip
Break
To become fractured
His arm broke from the fall.
Crack
(transitive) To tell (a joke).
The performance was fine until he cracked that dead baby joke.
Break
To become unusable or inoperative
The television broke.
Crack
To break down (a complex molecule), especially with the application of heat: to pyrolyse.
Acetone is cracked to ketene and methane at 700°C.
Break
To give way; collapse
The scaffolding broke during the storm.
Crack
To circumvent software restrictions such as regional coding or time limits.
That software licence will expire tomorrow unless we can crack it.
Break
To burst
The blister broke.
Crack
To open a canned beverage, or any packaged drink or food.
I'd love to crack open a beer.
Let's crack a tube and watch the game.
Break
To intrude
They broke in upon our conversation.
Crack
(obsolete) To brag; to boast.
Break
To filter in or penetrate
Sunlight broke into the room.
Crack
To be ruined or impaired; to fail.
Break
To scatter or disperse; part
The clouds broke after the storm.
Crack
(colloquial) To barely reach, attain to (a measurement, extent).
An underground band that never cracked the Hot 100
Break
(Games) To make the opening shot that scatters the grouped balls in billiards or pool.
Crack
A thin and usually jagged space opened in a previously solid material.
A large crack had formed in the roadway.
Break
(Sports) To separate from a clinch in boxing.
Crack
A narrow opening.
We managed to squeeze through a crack in the rock wall.
Open the door a crack.
Break
(Sports) To win a game on the opponent's service, as in tennis
Broke twice in the first set.
Crack
A sharply humorous comment; a wisecrack.
I didn't appreciate that crack about my hairstyle.
Break
To move away or escape suddenly
Broke from his grip and ran off.
Crack
(slang) Crack cocaine, a potent, relatively cheap, addictive variety of cocaine; often a rock, usually smoked through a crack-pipe.
Crack head
Break
To come forth or begin from a state of latency; come into being or emerge
A storm was breaking over Miami. Crocuses broke from the soil.
Crack
Something good-tasting or habit-forming.
Break
To emerge above the surface of water.
Crack
(onomatopoeia) The sharp sound made when solid material breaks.
The crack of the falling branch could be heard for miles.
Break
To become known or noticed
The big story broke on Friday.
Crack
(onomatopoeia) Any sharp sound.
The crack of the bat hitting the ball.
Break
To change direction or move suddenly
The quarterback broke to the left to avoid a tackler.
Crack
A sharp, resounding blow.
Break
(Baseball) To curve near or over the plate
The pitch broke away from the batter.
Crack
(informal) An attempt at something.
I'd like to take a crack at that game.
Break
To change suddenly from one tone quality or musical register to another
His voice broke into a falsetto.
Crack
Vagina.
Break
(Linguistics) To undergo breaking.
Crack
(informal) The space between the buttocks.
Pull up your pants! Your crack is showing.
Break
To change to a gait different from the one set. Used of a horse.
Crack
Conviviality; fun; good conversation, chat, gossip, or humorous storytelling; good company.
The party was great crack.
Break
To interrupt or cease an activity
We'll break for coffee at ten.
Crack
Business; events; news.
What's the crack?
What's this crack about a possible merger?
Break
To discontinue an association, an agreement, or a relationship
The partners broke over a financial matter. One hates to break with an old friend.
Crack
(computing) A program or procedure designed to circumvent restrictions or usage limits on software.
Has anyone got a crack for DocumentWriter 3.0?
Break
To diminish or discontinue abruptly
The fever is breaking.
Crack
An expanding circle of white water surrounding the site of a large explosion at shallow depth, marking the progress of the shock wave through the air above the water.A nuclear explosion in shallow water; the crack is clearly visible on the water's surface.
Break
To diminish in or lose physical or spiritual strength; weaken or succumb
Their good cheer broke after repeated setbacks.
Crack
A meaningful chat.
Break
To decrease sharply in value or quantity
Stock prices broke when the firm suddenly announced layoffs.
Crack
(Internet slang) Extremely silly, absurd or off-the-wall ideas or prose.
Break
To come to an end
The cold spell broke yesterday.
Crack
The tone of voice when changed at puberty.
Break
To collapse or crash into surf or spray
Waves that were breaking along the shore.
Crack
(archaic) A mental flaw; a touch of craziness; partial insanity.
He has a crack.
Break
(Informal) To take place or happen; proceed
Things have been breaking well for them.
Crack
(archaic) A crazy or crack-brained person.
Break
To engage in breaking; break dance.
Crack
(obsolete) A boast; boasting.
Break
The act or an occurrence of breaking.
Crack
(obsolete) Breach of chastity.
Break
The result of breaking, as a crack, separation, or opening
A break in the clouds.
Crack
(obsolete) A boy, generally a pert, lively boy.
Break
The beginning or emergence of something
The break of day.
Crack
A brief time; an instant; a jiffy.
I'll be with you in a crack.
Break
A sudden movement; a dash
The dog made a break toward the open field.
Crack
(obsolete) One who excels; the best.
Break
An escape
A prison break.
Crack
Highly trained and competent.
Even a crack team of investigators would have trouble solving this case.
Break
An interruption or a disruption in continuity or regularity
Television programming without commercial breaks.
Crack
Excellent, first-rate, superior, top-notch.
She's a crack shot with that rifle.
Break
A pause or interval, as from work
A coffee break.
Crack
To break or burst, with or without entire separation of the parts; as, to crack glass; to crack nuts.
Break
A sudden or marked change
A break in the weather.
Crack
To rend with grief or pain; to affect deeply with sorrow; hence, to disorder; to distract; to craze.
O, madam, my old heart is cracked.
He thought none poets till their brains were cracked.
Break
A violation
A security break.
Crack
To cause to sound suddenly and sharply; to snap; as, to crack a whip.
Break
An often sudden piece of luck, especially good luck
Finally got the big break in life.
Crack
To utter smartly and sententiously; as, to crack a joke.
Break
An allowance or indulgence; accommodating treatment
The boss gave me a break because I'd been sick.
Crack
To cry up; to extol; - followed by up.
Break
A favorable price or reduction
A tax break for charitable contributions.
Crack
To burst or open in chinks; to break, with or without quite separating into parts.
By misfortune it cracked in the coling.
The mirror cracked from side to side.
Break
A severing of ties
Made a break with the past.
A break between the two families.
Crack
To be ruined or impaired; to fail.
The credit . . . of exchequers cracks, when little comes in and much goes out.
Break
(Informal) A faux pas.
Crack
To utter a loud or sharp, sudden sound.
As thunder when the clouds in autumn crack.
Break
A sudden decline in prices.
Crack
To utter vain, pompous words; to brag; to boast; - with of.
Ethoipes of their sweet complexion crack.
Break
A caesura.
Crack
A partial separation of parts, with or without a perceptible opening; a chink or fissure; a narrow breach; a crevice; as, a crack in timber, or in a wall, or in glass.
Break
The space between two paragraphs.
Crack
Rupture; flaw; breach, in a moral sense.
My love to thee is sound, sans crack or flaw.
Break
A series of three dots ( ... ) used to indicate an omission in a text.
Crack
A sharp, sudden sound or report; the sound of anything suddenly burst or broken; as, the crack of a falling house; the crack of thunder; the crack of a whip.
Will the stretch out to the crack of doom?
Break
The place where a word is or should be divided at the end of a line.
Crack
The tone of voice when changed at puberty.
Though now our voicesHave got the mannish crack.
Break
(Electricity) Interruption of a flow of current.
Crack
Mental flaw; a touch of craziness; partial insanity; as, he has a crack.
Break
(Geology) A marked change in topography such as a fault or deep valley.
Crack
A crazy or crack-brained person.
I . . . can not get the Parliament to listen to me, who look upon me as a crack and a projector.
Break
(Nautical) The point of discontinuity between two levels on the deck of a ship.
Crack
A boast; boasting.
Break
The point at which one register or tonal quality changes to another.
Crack
Breach of chastity.
Break
The change itself.
Crack
A boy, generally a pert, lively boy.
Val. 'T is a noble child. Vir. A crack, madam.
Break
An improvised instrumental solo played in jazz and other popular music while the other musicians stop or play softly.
Crack
A brief time; an instant; as, to be with one in a crack.
Break
A change in a horse's gait to one different from that set by the rider.
Crack
Free conversation; friendly chat.
What is crack in English? . . . A crack is . . . a chat with a good, kindly human heart in it.
Break
(Sports) The swerving of a ball from a straight path of flight, as in baseball or cricket.
Crack
A witty remark; a wisecrack.
Break
(Sports) The beginning of a race.
Crack
A chance or opportunity to do something; an attempt; as, I'll take a crack at it.
Break
A fast break.
Crack
A form of cocaine, highly purified and prepared as small pellets, especially suitable for smoking; - also called rock. Used in this form it appears to be more addicting than cocaine powder.
Break
The separation after a clinch in boxing.
Crack
Of superior excellence; having qualities to be boasted of; as, a crack shot.
One of our crack speakers in the Commons.
Break
(Games) The opening shot that scatters the grouped balls in billiards or pool.
Crack
A long narrow opening
Break
(Games) A run or unbroken series of successful shots, as in billiards or croquet.
Crack
A narrow opening;
He opened the window a crack
Break
Sports & Games Failure to score a strike or a spare in a given bowling frame.
Crack
A long narrow depression in a surface
Break
(Sports) A service break.
Crack
A sudden sharp noise;
The crack of a whip
He heard the cracking of the ice
He can hear the snap of a twig
Break
Variant of brake6.
Crack
A chance to do something;
He wanted a shot at the champion
Break
Break dancing.
Crack
Witty remark
Break
To separate into two or more pieces, to fracture or crack, by a process that cannot easily be reversed for reassembly.
If the vase falls to the floor, it might break.
In order to tend to the accident victim, he will break the window of the car.
Crack
A blemish resulting from a break without complete separation of the parts;
There was a crack in the mirror
Break
To crack or fracture (bone) under a physical strain.
His ribs broke under the weight of the rocks piled on his chest.
She broke her neck.
He slipped on the ice and broke his leg.
Crack
A purified and potent form of cocaine that is smoked rather than snorted
Break
(transitive) To divide (something, often money) into smaller units.
Can you break a hundred-dollar bill for me?
The wholesaler broke the container loads into palettes and boxes for local retailers.
Crack
A usually brief attempt;
He took a crack at it
I gave it a whirl
Break
(transitive) To cause (a person or animal) to lose spirit or will; to crush the spirits of.
Her child's death broke Angela.
Interrogators have used many forms of torture to break prisoners of war.
The interrogator hoped to break her to get her testimony against her accomplices.
Crack
The act of cracking something
Break
To turn an animal into a beast of burden.
You have to break an elephant before you can use it as an animal of burden.
Crack
Become fractured; break or crack on the surface only;
The glass cracked when it was heated
Break
(intransitive) To be crushed, or overwhelmed with sorrow or grief.
My heart is breaking.
Crack
Make a very sharp explosive sound;
His gun cracked
Break
(transitive) To interrupt; to destroy the continuity of; to dissolve or terminate.
I've got to break this habit I have of biting my nails.
To break silence; to break one's sleep; to break one's journey
I had won four games in a row, but now you've broken my streak of luck.
Crack
Make a sharp sound;
His fingers snapped
Break
To end the run of (a play).
Crack
Hit forcefully; deal a hard blow, making a cracking noise;
The teacher cracked him across the face with a ruler
Break
(transitive) To ruin financially.
The recession broke some small businesses.
Crack
Pass through (a barrier);
Registrations cracked through the 30,000 mark in the county
Break
To fail in business; to go broke, to become bankrupt.
Crack
Break partially but keep its integrity;
The glass cracked
Break
Of prices on the stock exchange: to fall suddenly.
Crack
Break suddenly and abruptly, as under tension;
The rope snapped
Break
(transitive) To violate; to fail to adhere to.
When you go to Vancouver, promise me you won't break the law.
He broke his vows by cheating on his wife.
Break one's word
Time travel would break the laws of physics.
Crack
Suffer a nervous breakdown
Break
To go down, in terms of temperature, indicating that the most dangerous part of the illness has passed.
Susan's fever broke at about 3 AM, and the doctor said the worst was over.
Crack
Tell spontaneously;
Crack a joke
Break
To end.
The forecast says the hot weather will break by midweek.
Crack
Cause to become cracked;
Heat and light cracked the back of the leather chair
Break
To begin or end.
We ran to find shelter before the storm broke.
Around midday the storm broke, and the afternoon was calm and sunny.
Crack
Reduce (petroleum) to a simpler compound by cracking
Break
To arrive.
Morning has broken.
The day broke crisp and clear.
Crack
Break into simpler molecules by means of heat;
The petroleum cracked
Break
To render (a game) unchallenging by altering its rules or exploiting loopholes or weaknesses in them in a way that gives a player an unfair advantage.
Changing the rules to let white have three extra queens would break chess.
I broke the RPG by training every member of my party to cast fireballs as well as use swords.
Crack
Of the highest quality;
An ace reporter
A crack shot
A first-rate golfer
A super party
Played top-notch tennis
An athlete in tiptop condition
She is absolutely tops
Break
To stop, or to cause to stop, functioning properly or altogether.
On the hottest day of the year the refrigerator broke.
Did you two break the trolley by racing with it?
Break
To cause (some feature of a program or piece of software) to stop functioning properly; to cause a regression.
Adding 64-bit support broke backward compatibility with earlier versions.
Break
(transitive) To cause (a barrier) to no longer bar.
Break a seal
Break
(specifically) To cause the shell of (an egg) to crack, so that the inside (yolk) is accessible.
Break
(specifically) To open (a safe) without using the correct key, combination, or the like.
Break
(transitive) To destroy the arrangement of; to throw into disorder; to pierce.
The cavalry were not able to break the British squares.
Break
To collapse into surf, after arriving in shallow water.
Break
(intransitive) To burst forth; to make its way; to come into view.
Break
(intransitive) To interrupt or cease one's work or occupation temporarily; to go on break.
Let's break for lunch.
Break
(transitive) To interrupt (a fall) by inserting something so that the falling object does not (immediately) hit something else beneath.
He survived the jump out the window because the bushes below broke his fall.
Break
To disclose or make known an item of news, a band, etc.
The newsman wanted to break a big story, something that would make him famous.
I don't know how to break this to you, but your cat is not coming back.
When news of their divorce broke, ...
Break
To become audible suddenly.
Break
(transitive) To change a steady state abruptly.
His coughing broke the silence.
His turning on the lights broke the enchantment.
With the mood broken, what we had been doing seemed pretty silly.
Break
To (attempt to) disengage and flee to; to make a run for.
Break
To suddenly become.
Things began breaking bad for him when his parents died.
The arrest was standard, when suddenly the suspect broke ugly.
Break
To become deeper at puberty.
Break
To alter in type due to emotion or strain: in men, generally to go up, in women, sometimes to go down; to crack.
His voice breaks when he gets emotional.
Break
(transitive) To surpass or do better than (a specific number); to do better than (a record), setting a new record.
He broke the men's 100-meter record.
I can't believe she broke 3 under par!
The policeman broke sixty on a residential street in his hurry to catch the thief.
Break
:
Break
To win a game (against one's opponent) as receiver.
He needs to break serve to win the match.
Break
To make the first shot; to scatter the balls from the initial neat arrangement.
Is it your or my turn to break?
Break
To remove one of the two men on (a point).
Break
To demote; to reduce the military rank of.
Break
(transitive) To end (a connection); to disconnect.
The referee ordered the boxers to break the clinch.
The referee broke the boxers' clinch.
I couldn't hear a thing he was saying, so I broke the connection and called him back.
Break
To demulsify.
Break
To counter-attack.
Break
To lay open, as a purpose; to disclose, divulge, or communicate.
Break
(intransitive) To become weakened in constitution or faculties; to lose health or strength.
Break
(transitive) To destroy the strength, firmness, or consistency of.
To break flax
Break
(transitive) To destroy the official character and standing of; to cashier; to dismiss.
Break
(intransitive) To make an abrupt or sudden change; to change gait.
To break into a run or gallop
Break
To fall out; to terminate friendship.
Break
To terminate the execution of a program before normal completion.
Break
To suspend the execution of a program during debugging so that the state of the program can be investigated.
Break
(computing) To cause, or allow the occurrence of, a line break.
Zero-width non-breaking space
Break
To B-boy; to breakdance.
Break
An instance of breaking something into two or more pieces.
The femur has a clean break and so should heal easily.
Break
A physical space that opens up in something or between two things.
The sun came out in a break in the clouds.
He waited minutes for a break in the traffic to cross the highway.
Break
A rest or pause, usually from work.
Let’s take a five-minute break.
Break
A time for students to talk or play between lessons.
Break
A scheduled interval of days or weeks between periods of school instruction; a holiday.
Winter break, spring break
Break
A short holiday.
A weekend break on the Isle of Wight
Break
A temporary split with a romantic partner.
I think we need a break.
Break
An interval or intermission between two parts of a performance, for example a theatre show, broadcast, or sports game.
Break
A significant change in circumstance, attitude, perception, or focus of attention.
Big break
Lucky break, bad break
Break
(finance) A sudden fall in prices on the stock exchange.
Break
The beginning (of the morning).
At the break of day
Break
An act of escaping.
Make a break for it, for the door
It was a clean break.
Prison break
Break
The separation between lines, paragraphs or pages of a written text.
Break
(computing) A keystroke or other signal that causes a program to terminate or suspend execution.
Break
(programming) breakpoint
Break
A change, particularly the end of a spell of persistent good or bad weather.
Break
:
Break
(tennis) A game won by the receiving player(s).
Break
The first shot in a game of billiards.
Break
(snooker) The number of points scored by one player in one visit to the table.
Break
(soccer) The counter-attack.
Break
(golf) The curve imparted to the ball's motion on the green due to slope or grass texture.
Break
(surfing) A place where waves break (that is, where waves pitch or spill forward creating white water).
The final break in the Greenmount area is Kirra Point.
Break
(horse racing) The start of a horse race.
Break
(dated) A large four-wheeled carriage, having a straight body and calash top, with the driver's seat in front and the footman's behind.
Break
(equitation) A sharp bit or snaffle.
Break
(music) A short section of music, often between verses, in which some performers stop while others continue.
The fiddle break was amazing; it was a pity the singer came back in on the wrong note.
Break
(music) The point in the musical scale at which a woodwind instrument is designed to overblow, that is, to move from its lower to its upper register.
Crossing the break smoothly is one of the first lessons the young clarinettist needs to master.
Break
(music) The transition area between a singer's vocal registers; the passaggio.
Break
An area along a river that features steep banks, bluffs, or gorges (e.g., Upper Missouri River Breaks National Monument, US).
Break
An error.
Break
(music) A section of extended repetition of the percussion break to a song, created by a hip-hop DJ as rhythmic dance music.
Break
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.
Break
To lay open as by breaking; to divide; as, to break a package of goods.
Break
To lay open, as a purpose; to disclose, divulge, or communicate.
Katharine, break thy mind to me.
Break
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.
Break
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.
Break
To destroy the completeness of; to remove a part from; as, to break a set.
Break
To destroy the arrangement of; to throw into disorder; to pierce; as, the cavalry were not able to break the British squares.
Break
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.
Break
To exchange for other money or currency of smaller denomination; as, to break a five dollar bill.
Break
To destroy the strength, firmness, or consistency of; as, to break flax.
Break
To weaken or impair, as health, spirit, or mind.
An old man, broken with the storms of state.
Break
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.
Break
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.
Break
To tame; to reduce to subjection; to make tractable; to discipline; as, to break a horse to the harness or saddle.
Why, then thou canst not break her to the lute?
Break
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.
Break
To destroy the official character and standing of; to cashier; to dismiss.
I see a great officer broken.
Break
To come apart or divide into two or more pieces, usually with suddenness and violence; to part; to burst asunder.
Break
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.
Break
To burst forth; to make its way; to come to view; to appear; to dawn.
The day begins to break, and night is fled.
And from the turf a fountain broke,and gurgled at our feet.
Break
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.
Break
To open up; to be scattered; to be dissipated; as, the clouds are breaking.
At length the darkness begins to break.
Break
To become weakened in constitution or faculties; to lose health or strength.
See how the dean begins to break;Poor gentleman! he droops apace.
Break
To be crushed, or overwhelmed with sorrow or grief; as, my heart is breaking.
Break
To fall in business; to become bankrupt.
He that puts all upon adventures doth oftentimes break, and come to poverty.
Break
To make an abrupt or sudden change; to change the gait; as, to break into a run or gallop.
Break
To fail in musical quality; as, a singer's voice breaks when it is strained beyond its compass and a tone or note is not completed, but degenerates into an unmusical sound instead. Also, to change in tone, as a boy's voice at puberty.
Break
To fall out; to terminate friendship.
To break upon the score of danger or expense is to be mean and narrow-spirited.
Fear me not, man; I will not break away.
He had broken down almost at the outset.
This radiant from the circling crowd he broke.
Break
An opening made by fracture or disruption.
Break
An interruption of continuity; change of direction; as, a break in a wall; a break in the deck of a ship.
Break
An interruption; a pause; as, a break in friendship; a break in the conversation.
Break
An interruption in continuity in writing or printing, as where there is an omission, an unfilled line, etc.
All modern trash isSet forth with numerous breaks and dashes.
Break
The first appearing, as of light in the morning; the dawn; as, the break of day; the break of dawn.
Break
A large four-wheeled carriage, having a straight body and calash top, with the driver's seat in front and the footman's behind.
Break
See Commutator.
Break
Some abrupt occurrence that interrupts;
The telephone is an annoying interruption
There was a break in the action when a player was hurt
Break
An unexpected piece of good luck;
He finally got his big break
Break
(geology) a crack in the earth's crust resulting from the displacement of one side with respect to the other;
They built it right over a geological fault
Break
A personal or social separation (as between opposing factions);
They hoped to avoid a break in relations
Break
A pause from doing something (as work);
We took a 10-minute break
He took time out to recuperate
Break
The act of breaking something;
The breakage was unavoidable
Break
A time interval during which there is a temporary cessation of something
Break
Breaking of hard tissue such as bone;
It was a nasty fracture
The break seems to have been caused by a fall
Break
The occurrence of breaking;
The break in the dam threatened the valley
Break
The opening shot that scatters the balls in billiards or pool
Break
(tennis) a score consisting of winning a game when your opponent was serving;
He was up two breaks in the second set
Break
An act of delaying or interrupting the continuity;
It was presented without commercial breaks
Break
A sudden dash;
He made a break for the open door
Break
Any frame in which a bowler fails to make a strike or spare;
The break in the eighth frame cost him the match
Break
An escape from jail;
The breakout was carefully planned
Break
Terminate;
She interrupted her pregnancy
Break a lucky streak
Break the cycle of poverty
Break
Become separated into pieces or fragments;
The figurine broke
The freshly baked loaf fell apart
Break
Destroy the integrity of; usually by force; cause to separate into pieces or fragments;
He broke the glass plate
She broke the match
Break
Render inoperable or ineffective;
You broke the alarm clock when you took it apart!
Break
Ruin completely;
He busted my radio!
Break
Act in disregard of laws and rules;
Offend all laws of humanity
Violate the basic laws or human civilization
Break a law
Break
Move away or escape suddenly;
The horses broke from the stable
Three inmates broke jail
Nobody can break out--this prison is high security
Break
Scatter or part;
The clouds broke after the heavy downpour
Break
Force out or release suddenly and often violently something pent up;
Break into tears
Erupt in anger
Break
Prevent completion;
Stop the project
Break off the negociations
Break
Enter someone's property in an unauthorized manner, usually with the intent to steal or commit a violent act;
Someone broke in while I was on vacation
They broke into my car and stole my radio!
Break
Make submissive, obedient, or useful;
The horse was tough to break
I broke in the new intern
Break
Fail to agree with; be in violation of; as of rules or patterns;
This sentence violates the rules of syntax
Break
Surpass in excellence;
She bettered her own record
Break a record
Break
Make known to the public information that was previously known only to a few people or that was meant to be kept a secret;
The auction house would not disclose the price at which the van Gogh had sold
The actress won't reveal how old she is
Bring out the truth
He broke the news to her
Break
Come into being;
Light broke over the horizon
Voices broke in the air
Break
Stop operating or functioning;
The engine finally went
The car died on the road
The bus we travelled in broke down on the way to town
The coffee maker broke
The engine failed on the way to town
Her eyesight went after the accident
Break
Interrupt a continued activity;
She had broken with the traditional patterns
Break
Make a rupture in the ranks of the enemy or one's own by quitting or fleeing;
The ranks broke
Break
Curl over and fall apart in surf or foam, of waves;
The surf broke
Break
Lessen in force or effect;
Soften a shock
Break a fall
Break
Be broken in;
If the new teacher won't break, we'll add some stress
Break
Come to an end;
The heat wave finally broke yesterday
Break
Vary or interrupt a uniformity or continuity;
The flat plain was broken by tall mesas
Break
Cause to give up a habit;
She finally broke herself of smoking cigarettes
Break
Give up;
Break cigarette smoking
Break
Come forth or begin from a state of latency;
The first winter storm broke over New York
Break
Happen or take place;
Things have been breaking pretty well for us in the past few months
Break
Cause the failure or ruin of;
His peccadilloes finally broke his marriage
This play will either make or break the playwright
Break
Invalidate by judicial action;
The will was broken
Break
Discontinue an association or relation; go different ways;
The business partners broke over a tax question
The couple separated after 25 years of marriage
My friend and I split up
Break
Assign to a lower position; reduce in rank;
She was demoted because she always speaks up
He was broken down to Sargeant
Break
Reduce to bankruptcy;
My daughter's fancy wedding is going to break me!
The slump in the financial markets smashed him
Break
Change directions suddenly
Break
Emerge from the surface of a body of water;
The whales broke
Break
Break down, literally or metaphorically;
The wall collapsed
The business collapsed
The dam broke
The roof collapsed
The wall gave in
The roof finally gave under the weight of the ice
Break
Do a break dance;
Kids were break-dancing at the street corner
Break
Exchange for smaller units of money;
I had to break a $100 bill just to buy the candy
Break
Destroy the completeness of a set of related items;
The book dealer would not break the set
Break
Make the opening shot that scatters the balls
Break
Separate from a clinch, in boxing;
The referee broke the boxers
Break
Go to pieces;
The lawn mower finally broke
The gears wore out
The old chair finally fell apart completely
Break
Break a piece from a whole;
Break a branch from a tree
Break
Become punctured or penetrated;
The skin broke
Break
Pierce or penetrate;
The blade broke her skin
Break
Be released or become known; of news;
News of her death broke in the morning
Break
Cease an action temporarily;
We pause for station identification
Let's break for lunch
Break
Interrupt the flow of current in;
Break a circuit
Break
Undergo breaking;
The simple vowels broke in many Germanic languages
Break
Find a flaw in;
Break an alibi
Break down a proof
Break
Find the solution or key to;
Break the code
Break
Change suddenly from one tone quality or register to another;
Her voice broke to a whisper when she started to talk about her children
Break
Happen;
Report the news as it develops
These political movements recrudesce from time to time
Break
Become fractured; break or crack on the surface only;
The glass cracked when it was heated
Break
Of the male voice in puberty;
His voice is breaking--he should no longer sing in the choir
Break
Fall sharply;
Stock prices broke
Break
Fracture a bone of;
I broke my foot while playing hockey
Break
Diminish or discontinue abruptly;
The patient's fever broke last night
Break
Weaken or destroy in spirit or body;
His resistance was broken
A man broken by the terrible experience of near-death
Common Curiosities
How does temperature affect cracking and breaking?
Extreme temperatures can increase the likelihood of both cracking and breaking, as materials expand or contract and become more vulnerable to stress.
Can an object crack without eventually breaking?
Yes, an object can sustain a crack without necessarily breaking, especially if the material can endure stress without complete failure.
In terms of maintenance, how do you address cracks and breaks?
Cracks might only require monitoring or minor repairs like filling, while breaks often require more extensive repair or replacement of the damaged parts.
Is a crack always a precursor to a break?
Not always; while a crack can indicate potential for future breaking, many materials can remain functional with cracks for a significant period.
What are the implications of breaks and cracks in structural engineering?
In structural engineering, cracks are monitored for safety risks, whereas breaks often result in immediate and significant structural failures.
Can repeated stress lead to breaks or cracks, or both?
Repeated stress can cause both cracks and breaks, depending on the material's properties and the nature of the stress applied.
What types of materials are most susceptible to cracking?
Materials like glass, ceramics, and brittle plastics are more susceptible to cracking due to their rigid and fragile nature.
How do psychological stresses relate to the terms "break" and "crack"?
Psychologically, "break" can mean a breakdown or loss of control, whereas "crack" might refer to small fissures in one's composure or mental state.
What preventive measures can avoid breaks and cracks?
Preventive measures include using appropriate materials, applying protective coatings, and avoiding undue stress or overloading.
What are the economic implications of breaks and cracks in manufacturing?
In manufacturing, cracks can lead to product failures and recalls, potentially costing companies significantly, while breaks might result in halted production lines.
In software, what do "break" and "crack" mean?
In software, "break" can refer to stopping or interrupting a process, while "crack" often means to bypass security features illegally.
How are cracks treated in artistic mediums like pottery or glass?
In artistic contexts, some cracks are embraced as part of an aesthetic (like Kintsugi in Japanese pottery), while others are meticulously repaired.
Can the terms "break" and "crack" be used interchangeably in any context?
They are not typically interchangeable; "break" implies a complete separation, while "crack" indicates a partial, surface-level damage.
How do breaks and cracks affect the resale value of items?
Items with visible cracks or breaks usually have a reduced resale value, as they are perceived as damaged or compromised in quality.
What actions lead to breaks and cracks in relationships?
Breaks in relationships typically result from significant betrayals or incompatibilities, whereas cracks may arise from misunderstandings or minor disputes.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
Co-written by
Urooj ArifUrooj is a skilled content writer at Ask Difference, known for her exceptional ability to simplify complex topics into engaging and informative content. With a passion for research and a flair for clear, concise writing, she consistently delivers articles that resonate with our diverse audience.
