breaking

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breaking

The child accidentally dropped the plate, causing a loud breaking sound.

Definition
  1. Noun:
    • The act of causing something to separate into pieces, often suddenly or violently: "breaking" refers to the action or instance of damaging something so that it is no longer whole or functional. It implies a fracture, split, or destruction of integrity.
Usage
  • "Breaking" is used to describe the action itself, not the resulting state. It focuses on the moment or process of fracture.
  • It is commonly used with objects but can be applied abstractly (e.g., breaking a rule, breaking a habit).
  • It often appears in contexts involving force, accident, or deliberate action.
Examples
  • Noun:
    • The breaking of the window was caused by the storm. (The act of the window being shattered.)
    • He was charged with the breaking of several safety regulations. (The act of violating the rules.)
    • The constant pressure led to the breaking of the dam. (The act of the dam failing.)
Advanced Usage
  • "Breaking and entering": A legal term for the crime of entering a building by force, typically with intent to commit a felony.
    • The suspect was arrested for breaking and entering.
  • In media: The term "breaking" is used as an adjective in "breaking news" to indicate news that is currently happening or just being reported.
    • We interrupt this program for breaking news.
Variants and Related Words
  • Break (verb/noun): The base form. As a verb: to cause to separate into pieces. As a noun: the result of breaking (e.g., a pause, a fracture).
  • Breakage (noun): The act or result of breaking; things broken.
    • The breakage from the earthquake was extensive.
  • Broken (adjective): The state of having been broken.
    • A broken vase.
Synonyms
  • Fracturing: Cracking or breaking, especially of hard materials like bone or stone.
  • Shattering: Breaking violently into many pieces.
  • Snapping: Breaking suddenly and completely, often with a sharp sound.
  • Violation: The act of breaking a law, rule, or agreement.
Related Phrasal Verbs (from the base verb "break")
  • Break down:
    • To stop functioning (for machines).
      • My car broke down on the highway.
    • To lose emotional control.
      • She broke down in tears.
  • Break into:
    • To enter a place by force.
      • Thieves broke into the house.
    • To suddenly begin doing something (e.g., a run, a song).
      • He broke into a sprint.
  • Break out:
    • To escape from a place.
      • A prisoner broke out of jail.
    • To suddenly begin (e.g., war, disease).
      • A fire broke out in the kitchen.
Related Idioms
  • Break the ice: To do or say something to relieve tension or get conversation started.
    • He told a joke to break the ice at the meeting.
  • Break even: To have expenses equal to profits; to neither gain nor lose money.
    • After the first year, the business finally broke even.
  • Break a habit: To stop doing something you do regularly.
    • It's very difficult to break a bad habit.
breaking

The child accidentally dropped the plate, causing a loud breaking sound.

Noun
  1. the act of breaking something
    • the breakage was unavoidable