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.

Noun

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