break with sb/sth phrasal

verb (T)

1 to leave a group of people or an organization, especially because you have had a disagreement with them: break with sb/sth over sth: Powell broke with the Conservative Party over Europe.

2 break with tradition/the past to stop following old customs and do something in a completely different way

2 noun

1 A REST

a) (C) a period of time when you stop what you are doing in order to rest, eat etc: without a break: Larry had worked all day without a break. | tea/coffee/lunch break: It's time for a coffee break. | have/take a break: Let's take a ten minute break.

b) (C) a short holiday: weekend break: a travel agent specializing in weekend breaks | the Easter/Christmas etc break (=the public or school holiday at Easter etc)

c) (U) also break time BrE the time during the school day when classes stop and teachers and students can rest, eat, play etc; recess 1 (2) AmE: I'll speak to you at break.

2 A PAUSE IN STH

a) (C) a period of several weeks or years during which something stops, before continuing again

(+ in): a welcome break in my normal routine | career break: Demi Moore planned to take a career break to have children.

b) (C) a pause in a conversation or in what someone is saying

(+ in): She waited for a break in the conversation.

c) also commercial break a pause for advertisements during a television or radio programme: Join us again after the break.

3 END/CHANGE (singular) an occasion when you end a relationship with a person, organization etc, or change the way that things have always been done in the past

(+ from): Medieval thought represents a sharp break from that of the Greeks. (+ with): In a break with tradition, they held their wedding at home. | a clean break (=a very clear and definite end to a relationship): I don't want a messy divorce, just a quick, clean break. | make the break: She's wanted to leave Dave for years, and last week she finally made the break.

4 A SPACE (C) a space between two things or between two parts of something: The sun shone through a break in the clouds. | a break in the weather (=a short period of good weather)

5 A CHANCE (C) informal a sudden or unexpected chance to do something, especially be successful in your job: big/lucky break: My big break came when I was spotted singing in a club by a talent scout.

6 make a break for sth to suddenly start running towards something in order to escape from a place: As soon as the guard's back was turned they made a break for the door. | make a break for it (=try to escape)

7 BROKEN PLACE (C) the place where a bone in your body has broken: It's a nasty break, the bone has splintered.

8 give sb/sth a break! spoken used when you want someone to stop talking about something or doing something because it is annoying you: I'm sick of hearing about your problems. Just give it a break.

9 give me a break! AmE spoken used when you do not believe something someone has said

10 TENNIS also break of serve (C) a situation in a game of tennis in which you win a game when your opponent is serving (serve1 (10)): break point (=the moment when if you win the point, you win a game)

11 POINTS (C) the number of points won by a player when it is their turn to hit the ball in a game such as billiards or snooker 1

12 the break of day literary the time early in the morning when it starts getting light