v (1) (使)破(碎，裂)，折断 ((cause to) separate into two or more parts suddenly or violently by force or strain (but not by cutting or tearing))[I， I+prep(in/into)， T+n， T+n+prep(in/into)]：The cup/glass broke. 杯子/玻璃杯碎了。The bag/chain broke. 包破了/链子断了。A heated balloon will～. 加热的气球会爆。The cup/vase/mirror broke into two (pieces). 杯子/花瓶/镜子碎成两半(碎片)。～a cup/a vase/a window打碎一个杯子/花瓶/窗户;～a balloon弄破一个气球;～a rope/a thread弄断一根绳子/线;～a leg/an arm摔断腿/手臂;～a cup/a plate/a bar of chocolate into two(pieces)把一个杯子/一个碟子/一板巧克力打(掰)成两半(碎片);〖同〗 burst，crack; 〖反〗 repair，mend，fix;
 (2) (弄)坏((cause to) become unusable by being damaged)[I， T+n]：～one's watch by winding it too much/a computer by dropping it上弦过紧把表弄坏了/把计算机掉地上摔坏了;The watch/machine/TV set is broken and must be repaired.表/机器/电视机坏了，必须修理。〖同〗ruin;
 (3) 弄破……的表面(open the surface of)[T+n]：～the skin/the soil弄破了皮肤/破土;
 (4)不遵守;违背(反)，破坏(go against; fail to observe (a law， promise， etc)) [T+n]：～the law/the rules/the regulations/the speed limit 犯法/违反规章/违反条例/超速;～a law/an agreement/a contract违反法规/协议/合同;～an appointment/a date/an engagement取消约会/约会/约会;～one's promise/one's word食言;〖同〗disobey;〖反〗obey，observe;
 (5) (使)中断(止)(interrupt(an activity)͵ stop for a short time)[I， I+adv (off)， T+n]：Let's～for tea/a meal.咱们停一下喝杯茶/吃饭吧。～one's fall/one's sleep 挡住了跌落/打断了睡眠;～one's journey(to...) at a place(去……的)旅途中在某处停下来;～sb's concentration打断某人的注意;～(one's opponent's) service赢得(对方)发球的一局;〖同〗interrupt，stop;
 (6) (使)结束((cause to) come to an end)[I， T+n]：The cold weather/frost/heatwave/storm broke at last.寒冷的天气/严寒/热浪/暴风雨终于结束了。His fever broke.他的烧退了。～the silence (stillness) with a cry/by coughing叫声/咳嗽声打破了寂静;～a blockade/a siege/a strike打破封锁/冲破包围/阻止罢工;～the ice 打破僵局(开始交谈);
 (7) 消散(show an opening;disperse)[I]：The clouds (mist) broke.云(雾)散开了。
 (8) (突然)出现(发生，传开)(come into being or notice esp suddenly)[I]： Dawn/Day/Daylight was～ing.天将破晓。The storm broke.暴风雨突然来临。A smile broke upon his lips.他嘴上露出了笑容。The news/A scandal broke.消息传开了/丑闻爆发了。
 (9) 告知，透露(make known (esp sth bad))[T+n+prep (to)]：～the bad news/the shock to sb向某人透露坏消息/令人震惊的事;〖同〗disclose，tell，inform;〖反〗conceal，hide;
 (10)(使)衰退，(使)垮掉((cause to) weaken or be destroyed)[T+n，I]：～sb's morale/sb's resistance/sb's resolve/sb's spirit/sb's power使某人的士气/反抗/决心/精神/势力垮下去;～the enemy摧毁敌人;After several hours the police broke the man and he confessed.几个小时后警察攻下了那个人，他招认了。The scandal/Her death/Paying for the house/The medical bills/The expense just broke him.那丑闻/她的死/付房款/医药费账单/那费用差点使他垮掉。He broke under the strain of all the worry.他因忧愁过度而心力交瘁。His spirit (health) broke.他的精神(身体)垮了。The suspect broke under questioning.那嫌疑犯招认了。〖同〗weaken，destroy，ruin;
 (11)变声(调)((of voice)change its tone because of deep feelings， or fall in pitch)[I]：His voice broke with strong feeling/as he tried to tell others the terrible news/when he was twelve.他由于感情激动/在给别人讲那可怕的消息时/12岁时嗓音变了。
 (12)超越(过)，打破(do better than or outdo(a record))[T+n]：～a record in sports打破一项运动记录;～the Commonwealth/World/Olympic 100 metres record打破英联邦国家/世界/奥林匹克百米跑记录;〖同〗exceed，beat;
 (13)破密(discover the secret of)[T+n]：～a code/a case 破译密码/破案子;
 (14)(使)成为 ((cause to) become， suddenly or violently) [L+adj， C+n+adj]：The prisoner broke free.犯人逃跑了。The horse broke loose.马逃脱了。The box broke open.箱子裂开了。～the door open 把门撞开;
 break away (from)(v adv) 1) 突然逃脱(跑) (vi)：The criminal broke away from his guards.罪犯从看守人员手中逃脱了。2) 脱离关系 (vi)：～away from a party/a group/one's friends/one's family与一个党/一群人/朋友/家庭脱离关系;
 break down (v adv) 1)分(瓦)解(vi & vt)：After many years， rock～down into dirt.经过许多年，岩石分解成尘埃。Food/Sugar/Starch is broken down in the stomach.食物/糖/淀粉在胃中被分解。2) (车辆、机器)坏了(vi)：The engine (machinery/car) broke down.发动机(机器/汽车)不运转了。3) (身体)垮;(感情)崩溃 (vi)：His health/He broke down.他的身体/他垮了。4) 失败，破裂 (vi)：The plans/negotiations/peace talks broke down.计划失败了/谈判破裂了/和谈破裂了。5)克(征)服，摧毁 (vt)：～down opposition/resistance击败反抗/抵抗;～down sb's shyness/sb's reserve使某人克服羞怯/孤僻;6) 分(解)为 (vt & vi)：～the figures down into a few lists把数据分为几组;
 break in (v adv) 1)强行进入，闯入(vi)：A thief (burglar) broke in while we were away.我们不在家时，一个小偷(窃贼)破门而入。2) 打断，插嘴 (vi)：Don't keep～ing in with your remark/to say anything/on our conversation.不要老插嘴发表意见/说话/打断我们的谈话。3) 使驯服(习惯)(vt)：～in a horse/a recruit/a new car驯服一匹马/训练新兵/熟悉一辆新车;
 break into(v prep) 1) 闯入(vt)：A thief broke into our house.一个小偷破门进入我们家。2) 突然开始：(crowd/people/audience)～into cheers/applause/roars of laughter (人群/人们/观众)突然欢呼/喝彩/哈哈大笑起来;
 break off (v adv)中止(断)(vi & vt)：～off relations/work/negotiations/speaking/a talk 中断关系/工作/谈判/讲话/谈话;The fight broke off.战斗中断。
 break out (v adv) 1)突然发生，爆发(vi)：A war (rebellion/crisis/strike/quarrel/plague/fire) broke out.战争(叛乱/危机/罢工/争吵/瘟疫/火灾)爆发了。2) 逃走(vi)：(prisoner)～out of prison/the jail (囚犯)从狱中逃出;
 break through (v prep/adv)突破(vt & vi)： They broke through the lines of the police/the police cordon/enemy's defences.他们冲破了警察的防线/警察的警戒线/敌人的防御工事。The army broke through at the border.军队突破边境。
 break up (v adv) 1) (使)破碎(vi & vt)：The ship broke up on the rocks.船在礁石上撞破了。～up a ship for scrap metal把船拆成废铁; 2) (使)结束 (vi & vt)：The party (meeting/marriage) broke up.聚会(会议/婚姻)结束了。～up a party/a fight/the partnership结束聚会/战斗/合作关系; 3) (学校，学生)放假 (vi)：The school/children will soon～up.学校/孩子们很快要放假了。
 →′breakable adj 易破碎的;′breakables n 易碎物品;′breakage n 破碎;破碎物品;′breaker n 破坏……的人(物);′breakaway n 脱离;′break-dancing n 霹雳舞;′breakdown n 故障; 崩溃;垮;′break-in n 闯入;′break-out n (用武力的)越狱;′break-through n 突破;突破性发现; ′break-up n 破裂;′breakneck adj 快得极危险的;′breakwater n 防波堤;′broken adj;
 n (1) 1) (工间，课间)休息，间歇(time for rest; period of time between activities)[C]：a～in the concert/between classes音乐会中间/课间休息;a coffee/tea～喝咖啡/茶的小憩;morning/lunch-～上午的课间休息/午休;take/have a～for lunch休息吃午饭;do sth without a～不间断地做某事; a～in a conversation谈话的间歇;〖同〗interval，pause，rest;2) 短期假日 (short holiday) [C]：The travel company is offering cheep winter～s.旅行社正举办廉价的冬季短期假日活动。a weekend～in the country周末的乡间休息;
 (2) 中止(断)(change or interruption of regularity or continuity)[C][N(in/with)]：a～in a child's education/the weather/diplomatic relations小孩学业的中断/天气的骤变/外交关系的中断; There was a～in the discussion/the fine weather.讨论/好天气中断。a～in an electrical circuit电流的中断;a～with tradition/the past/one's boyfriend/one's family与传统/过去/男朋友/家庭的决裂;
 (3) 破裂(口)，缝隙(place where sth is divided or separated into two parts， usu as a result of force; gap; space)[C]：a～in a fence/a wall/a pipe篱笆/墙/管子上的裂缝;a～in the clouds/the traffic云间的缝隙/交通中断; have two～s in the bones of one's arm臂骨断了两处;〖同〗opening，gap，hole;〖反〗blockage;
 (4) 机会，(好)运气(chance， opportunity or piece of (esp good) luck)[C](infml)：a big/lucky/bad～好运/好运/坏运气;have a good year with several big/lucky～s一年中交了几次好运;Give/Get him a～.给他个机会。This is your big～.这是你的好运气。〖同〗opportunity，fortune，chance;
 (5) 破晓(time of day before sunrise when daylight first appears)[U]：at～of day (=at daybreak) 破晓时分;
 make a break (for)企图逃跑;He made a～for cover/the gates.他朝隐蔽处/大门逃去。
 【辨异】 1)动词break与crush都可指用力把某物弄碎。break是最常用词，指通过打击、碰撞等把物体变成碎片，如：break a vase (打碎一个花瓶);crush (压碎)指用猛烈的压力把物体弄成碎块，如：crush the cottonseeds(压碎棉花籽);还有shatter和smash也含义相近。shatter((使)粉碎)指打破物体，并使碎片四处飞散开来，如：A stone shattered the window.(一块石头打碎了窗户玻璃。)smash((使)打碎)指突然把物体打成碎片，并发出很大声音，如：A dish smashed on the floor. (一个碟子掉地上摔碎了。) 2)名词 break 与 interval和pause都表示行为中间的停顿。break 特指工作中间或课间的休息，如：ten minutes' break(十分钟的休息); interval指戏剧中间的休息时间，如：have a quick drink in the interval(在幕间休息时匆匆喝口饮料);pause指讲话过程中短暂停顿，如：a pause of breath (喘口气)。