Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s Dictionary полностью

21 N‑COUNT A break is a lucky opportunity that someone gets to achieve something. [INFORMAL ] □  He got his first break appearing in a variety show.

22 VERB If you break a record, you beat the previous record for a particular achievement. □ [V n] The film had broken all box office records.

23 → see also record-breaking

24 VERB When day or dawn breaks , it starts to grow light after the night has ended. □ [V ] They continued the search as dawn broke.

25 → see also daybreak

26 VERB When a wave breaks , it passes its highest point and turns downwards, for example when it reaches the shore. □ [V ] Danny listened to the waves breaking against the shore.

27 VERB If you break a secret code, you work out how to understand it. □ [V n] It was feared they could break the Allies' codes.

28 VERB If someone's voice breaks when they are speaking, it changes its sound, for example because they are sad or afraid. □ [V ] Godfrey's voice broke, and halted.

29 VERB When a boy's voice breaks , it becomes deeper and sounds more like a man's voice. □ [V ] He sings with the strained discomfort of someone whose voice hasn't quite broken.

30 VERB If the weather breaks or a storm breaks , it suddenly becomes rainy or stormy after a period of sunshine. □ [V ] I've been waiting for the weather to break.

31 VERB In tennis, if you break your opponent's serve, you win a game in which your opponent is serving. □ [V n] The world No 5 broke the 25-year-old Cypriot's serve twice. ● N‑COUNT Break is also a noun. □  A single break of serve settled the first two sets.

32 → see also broke , broken , heartbreak , heartbreaking , heartbroken , outbreak

33 PHRASE The break of day or the break of dawn is the time when it begins to grow light after the night. [LITERARY ] □  'I,' he finished poetically, 'will watch over you to the break of day.'

34 CONVENTION You can say ' give me a break ' to show that you are annoyed by what someone has said or done. [INFORMAL , FEELINGS ] □  'I'm a real intellectual-type guy' James joked. 'Oh, give me a break,' Tracy moaned.

35 PHRASE If you make a break or make a break for it , you run to escape from something. □  The moment had come to make a break or die.

36to break cover → see cover

37to break even → see even ➋

38to break new ground → see ground

39to break someone's heart → see heart

40all hell breaks loose → see hell

41to break the ice → see ice

42to break ranks → see rank

43to break wind → see wind ➊

▸  break away

1 PHRASAL VERB If you break away from someone who is trying to hold you or catch you, you free yourself and run away. □ [V P + from ] I broke away from him and rushed out into the hall. □ [V P ] Willie Hamilton broke away early in the race.

2 PHRASAL VERB If you break away from something or someone that restricts you or controls you, you succeed in freeing yourself from them. □ [V P + from ] Many contemporary designers have tried to break away from classical formal patterns.

▸  break down

1 PHRASAL VERB If a machine or a vehicle breaks down , it stops working. □ [V P ] Their car broke down.

2 PHRASAL VERB If a discussion, relationship, or system breaks down , it fails because of a problem or disagreement. □ [V P ] Talks with business leaders broke down last night. □ [V P ] Paola's marriage broke down.