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📕 rednote ID(小红书号)：3881567312

Break: Meaning, Usage, and Common Collocations (2 meaning)

Meaning 1：separate into pieces by force (break)

break 🔊

/breɪk/

to make something separate into pieces, often by force.

Break meaning: hand holding broken ceramic plate pieces on wooden table

separate into pieces by force 🔊

➕

/ˈsɛpəˌreɪt ˈɪnˌtu ˈpiːsɪz baɪ fɔrs/

To cause an object to split or fragment using physical force, often resulting in damage or destruction.

📁 Category：Objects & Materials 🔖 Level：intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

From Old English 'brecan', related to Latin 'frangere'. Core idea: separate or disrupt.

💡 Mnemonic

B for 'Break it apart', R for 'Rest a while'. Remember: both actions start with B and R.

📖 Example

Be careful not to break that glass vase while you're dusting the shelf. 🔊 Be careful not to cause that glass vase to separate into pieces while you're dusting the shelf.

🔗 Collocations

break a window – to shatter a window pane by force

break a bone – to fracture a bone in the body

break the silence – to disrupt a quiet atmosphere with sound

🔄 Synonyms

shatter (v.) – to break into many small pieces suddenly

fracture (v.) – to crack or break, especially a hard material like bone

snap (v.) – to break suddenly with a sharp sound

🚫 Antonyms

repair (v.) – to fix something broken or damaged

mend (v.) – to restore something to working order

splice (v.) – to join ends together, as in repairing rope

🌱 Derivatives

breaker (n.) – a person or thing that breaks things

breakable (adj.) – easily broken or fragile

breakdown (n.) – a collapse or failure, often mechanical or mental

📖 Cultural Story

Break comes from Proto-Indo-European *bhreg- 'to break'. In modern English, it evolved to cover both physical shattering and short pauses, reflecting the concept of interruption.

Meaning 2：stop an activity briefly (break)

break 🔊

/breɪk/

to stop an activity for a short time to relax or do something else.

Break meaning: person taking a coffee break in modern office lounge

stop an activity briefly 🔊

➕

/stɑp æn ækˈtɪvəti ˈbrifli/

To temporarily cease an ongoing activity for rest, refreshment, or other purposes.

📁 Category：Time & Dates 🔖 Level：intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Example

Let's break for fifteen minutes and grab a cup of coffee before we continue the meeting. 🔊 Let's stop an activity briefly for fifteen minutes and grab a cup of coffee before we continue the meeting.

🔗 Collocations

break for lunch – to pause work to eat lunch

break time – a scheduled short rest period

take a break – to stop working for a short while

🔄 Synonyms

pause (v.) – to stop temporarily

recess (n.) – a short break in a formal meeting or school day

intermission (n.) – a short break between parts of a performance

🚫 Antonyms

continue (v.) – to keep going without stopping

proceed (v.) – to go forward with an activity

resume (v.) – to start again after a pause

🌱 Derivatives

break (n.) – a short period of rest or interruption

breakaway (adj.) – designed to separate easily, like a breakaway jersey

breakup (n.) – the end of a relationship or separation