Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s Dictionary полностью

brea k|fast te le|vi|sion N‑UNCOUNT Breakfast television refers to television programmes which are broadcast in the morning at the time when most people are having breakfast. [BRIT ]

brea k|fast time also breakfast-time N‑UNCOUNT [oft prep N ] Breakfast time is the period of the morning when most people have their breakfast. □  By breakfast-time he was already at his desk.

brea k-in (break-ins ) N‑COUNT If there has been a break-in , someone has got into a building by force. □  The break-in had occurred just before midnight.

brea k|ing point N‑UNCOUNT [oft the/a N ] If something or someone has reached breaking point , they have so many problems or difficulties that they can no longer cope with them, and may soon collapse or be unable to continue. □  The report on the riot exposed a prison system stretched to breaking point.

break|neck /bre I knek/ ADJ [ADJ n] If you say that something happens or travels at breakneck speed, you mean that it happens or travels very fast. □  Jack drove to Mayfair at breakneck speed.

break|out /bre I kaʊt/ (breakouts ) also break-out N‑COUNT If there has been a breakout , someone has escaped from prison. □  High Point prison had the highest number of breakouts of any jail in Britain.

break|through /bre I kθruː/ (breakthroughs ) N‑COUNT A breakthrough is an important development or achievement. □ [+ in ] The company looks poised to make a significant breakthrough in China.

brea k-up (break-ups ) also breakup

1 N‑COUNT [n N ] The break-up of a marriage, relationship, or association is the act of it finishing or coming to an end because the people involved decide that it is not working successfully. □ [+ of ] …the acrimonious break-up of the meeting's first session. □  …a marital break-up.

2 N‑COUNT The break-up of an organization or a country is the act of it separating or dividing into several parts. □ [+ of ] The struggling music group is considering a break-up of its three divisions in an attempt to speed up recovery. □  One in five people believes that a break-up would be favourable.

break|water /bre I kwɔːtə ^r / (breakwaters ) N‑COUNT A breakwater is a wooden or stone wall that extends from the shore into the sea and is built in order to protect a harbour or beach from the force of the waves.

breast ◆◇◇ /bre st/ (breasts )

1 N‑COUNT [oft poss N ] A woman's breasts are the two soft, round parts on her chest that can produce milk to feed a baby. □  She wears a low-cut dress which reveals her breasts. □  As my newborn cuddled at my breast, her tiny fingers stroked my skin. ●  -breasted COMB □  She was slim and muscular and full-breasted.

2 N‑COUNT A person's breast is the upper part of his or her chest. [LITERARY ] □  He struck his breast in a dramatic gesture.

3 N‑COUNT A bird's breast is the front part of its body. □  The cock's breast is tinged with chestnut. ●  -breasted COMB □  …flocks of red-breasted parrots.

4 N‑SING The breast of a shirt, jacket, or coat is the part which covers the top part of the chest. □  He reached into his breast pocket for his cigar case.

5 N‑VAR You can refer to piece of meat that is cut from the front of a bird or lamb as breast . □  …a chicken breast with vegetables. □ [+ of ] …breast of lamb.

6 → see also double-breasted , single-breasted

breast|bone /bre stboʊn/ (breastbones ) also breast bone N‑COUNT Your breastbone is the long, flat bone which goes from your throat to the bottom of your ribs and to which your ribs are attached.