break
Translation
to break, to fracture, to have a rest, to violate
Examples
Be careful not to break the glass.
Be careful not to break the glass.
Let's break for lunch.
Let's break for lunch.
She broke the world record.
She broke the world record.
He broke his promise.
He broke his promise.
Grammar Patterns
((sth.)) to damage (sth.) so it separates into pieces He broke the chair.
((for sth.)) to stop an activity for a short time Let's break for a few minutes.
((a rule/promise/record)) to fail to keep or to surpass (sth.) She broke the speed limit.
Similar Words
smash, crack, shatter; rest, pause; violate
Etymology
From Old English 'brecan', meaning 'to shatter'. The sense evolved from physical breaking to violating rules or taking a pause.
Memory Tips
Think of a 'break' in a continuous line. This can be a physical crack, a pause in activity, or a violation of a rule.