break up phrasal

break up phrasal
verb
1 BREAK INTO PIECES (I, T) to break or make something break into many small pieces: The stricken tanker began to break up on the rocks.
(break sth up): Jim started to break the ice up on the frozen lake.
2 SEPARATE (transitive break something up) to separate something into several smaller parts: I want to plant more bushes to break up the garden a bit.
3 FIGHT (I, T) if a fight etc breaks up or someone breaks it up, the people stop fighting each other
(break something up): Three policemen were needed to break up the fight. | break up a demonstration/meeting etc: The army is on hand to break up any demonstrations against the regime.
4 MARRIAGE/ORGANIZATION (I) if a marriage, group of people, or organization breaks up, the people in it separate and do not live or work together any more: If a parent dies, the family may break up.
-see also: breakup (1)
5 CROWD (I) if a crowd or meeting breaks up, people start to leave
6 SCHOOL (I) BrE if a school or the students of a school break up, they begin a holiday
(+ for): When do you break up for Easter?
7 MAKE SB LAUGH (T) AmE to say or do something that is so funny that people cannot stop laughing: break sb up: Hal really broke me up with that story about the alligator.

Longman dictionary of contemporary English. 2004.

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  • break down phrasal — verb 1 MACHINE (I) if a large machine, especially a car, breaks down, it stops working: The elevators in this building are always breaking down. 2 FAIL (I) if a discussion, system etc breaks down, it fails because there are problems: Peace talks… …   Longman dictionary of contemporary English

  • break off phrasal — verb 1 (I, T) to suddenly stop doing something, especially talking to someone: Fay told her story, breaking off now and then to wipe the tears from her eyes. (break sth off): I broke off the conversation and answered the phone. 2 (transitive… …   Longman dictionary of contemporary English

  • break out phrasal — verb (I) 1 ESCAPE to escape from a prison or similar place (+ of): a plan to break out of jail see also: breakout 2 WAR/FIRE ETC if something unpleasant such as a fire, war, or disease breaks out, it starts to happen: Several scuffles broke out… …   Longman dictionary of contemporary English

  • break in phrasal — verb 1 (I) to enter a building by using force, in order to steal something: Someone broke in and took several computers. see also: break in 2 (transitive break someone/something in) to make a person or animal get used to a certain way of behaving …   Longman dictionary of contemporary English

  • break through phrasal — verb 1 (I, T) to force a way through something: break through sth: At dawn 300 tanks prepared to break through the enemy lines. 2 (I, T) if the sun or light breaks through, you can see it through something such as clouds or mist 3 (transitive… …   Longman dictionary of contemporary English

  • break away phrasal — verb (I) 1 to leave a group or political party to form another group, usually because of a disagreement (+ from): The Nottingham miners broke away from the NUM to form their own union. 2 to move away from someone or something (+ from): They… …   Longman dictionary of contemporary English

  • break from — [phrasal verb] break from (someone or something) : to end a relationship, connection, or agreement with (someone or something) She recently broke from [=broke with] the organization she helped found. breaking from [=breaking with]… …   Useful english dictionary

  • break — break1 [ breık ] (past tense broke [ brouk ] ; past participle broken [ broukən ] ) verb *** ▸ 1 separate into pieces ▸ 2 fail to obey rules ▸ 3 make a hole/cut ▸ 4 destroy someone s confidence ▸ 5 when people learn news ▸ 6 stop for a short time …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • Break — A rapid and sharp price decline. The New York Times Financial Glossary * * * ▪ I. break break 1 [breɪk] verb broke PASTTENSE [brəʊk ǁ broʊk] broken PASTPART [ˈbrəʊkən ǁ …   Financial and business terms

  • break — A sudden price move; prices may break up or down. The CENTER ONLINE Futures Glossary A rapid and sharp price decline. Related: crash. Bloomberg Financial Dictionary * * * ▪ I. break break 1 [breɪk] verb broke PASTTENSE [brəʊk ǁ broʊk] …   Financial and business terms

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