break-up

The ice floe began its break-up in the spring thaw.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • The act of separating or disintegrating: "break-up" refers to the process of something coming apart or ending, such as a relationship, a group, or a physical object.
   • A dissolution: Specifically, it can describe the formal ending of a marriage, partnership, or organization.
   • A dispersal: It can also mean the scattering of a crowd or the closing of a school for a holiday period.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The break-up of the ice in spring caused flooding. (The ice disintegrated into separate pieces.)
  • Their break-up was very painful for both of them. (The end of their romantic relationship.)
  • The break-up of the crowd was orderly after the concert. (The dispersal of the people.)
  • The school's break-up for summer holidays begins next week. (The closing of school for vacation.)

Advanced Usage

• "break-up of a company": the division or dissolution of a business entity.

  • The break-up of the conglomerate led to several smaller firms. (The company split into separate parts.)

• "break-up of a nation": the separation of a country into smaller independent states.

  • The break-up of the Soviet Union occurred in 1991. (The Soviet Union disintegrated into multiple countries.)

Variants and Related Words

• Break up (verb phrase): to separate or cause to separate into pieces.
  • They decided to break up after five years together. (They ended their relationship.)
• Breakup (noun, alternative spelling): same as "break-up," often written without a hyphen.
  • The breakup of the band was unexpected. (The band disbanded.)

Synonyms

• Dissolution: the act of formally ending a group or organization.
• Separation: the state of being apart or divided.
• Disintegration: the process of breaking into smaller parts.
• Disbandment: the breaking up of a group of people.

Phrasal Verbs

• Break up (with someone): to end a romantic relationship.
  • He broke up with his girlfriend last month. (He ended the relationship.)
• Break up (something): to divide something into smaller parts.
  • Please break up the chocolate bar into pieces. (Separate it into smaller sections.)

Related Idioms

• Make a clean break: to end something completely and without hesitation.

  • After the break-up, she decided to make a clean break and move to a new city. (She ended the relationship entirely and started fresh.)

• Break-up value: the value of a company if it were broken up and its assets sold separately.

  • The break-up value of the firm exceeds its stock price. (The worth of its individual parts is higher than the market value.)