Definition

1. Verb (Transitive):

   • To separate a piece from a whole by force or snapping.
   • To stop or end something, such as an activity, discussion, or relationship, suddenly or before its planned conclusion.

2. Verb (Intransitive):

   • To become detached or separated from a whole.
   • To stop speaking or acting suddenly.

Usage and Examples

• Verb (Transitive - to separate):

  • He broke off a piece of chocolate and gave it to me.
  • The storm broke off several large branches from the tree.

• Verb (Transitive - to stop/end):

  • The two countries decided to break off diplomatic relations.
  • They agreed to break off the negotiations until next week.

• Verb (Intransitive - to become detached):

  • The handle broke off in my hand.
  • A large section of the glacier broke off and fell into the sea.

• Verb (Intransitive - to stop suddenly):

  • She suddenly broke off in the middle of her sentence.
  • He broke off when he saw the expression on my face.

Advanced Usage

• "to break off contact/communication": To deliberately stop communicating with someone.

  • After the argument, she broke off all contact with her former friend.

• "to break off an engagement": To end an agreement to be married.

  • They sadly decided to break off their engagement.

Variants and Related Words

• Breakoff (noun): An instance of stopping or ending something.

  • The breakoff of talks was a major setback.

• Broken-off (adjective): Describing something that has been separated.

  • He picked up the broken-off piece of the statue.

Synonyms

• Snap off / Chip off: (for separating a piece).
• Discontinue / Suspend / Terminate: (for stopping an activity).
• Abruptly stop / Cease: (for stopping speaking or acting).

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Break away: To escape or detach, often from a group.
• Break up: To end a relationship or to separate into pieces.

Related Idioms

• To break it off: An informal way to say "to end a romantic relationship."
  • After two years of dating, Jane decided to break it off.

Verb

1. break a small piece off from
   • chip the glass
   • chip a tooth
2. break a piece from a whole
   • break a branch from a tree
3. break off (a piece from a whole)
   • Her tooth chipped
4. prevent completion
   • stop the project
   • break off the negotiations
5. interrupt before its natural or planned end
   • We had to cut short our vacation