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Etymology data from Wiktionary via Wiktextract (CC BY-SA 4.0). Chinese character data from the 說文解字, the Taiwan MOE 國語辭典簡編本 (CC BY-ND 3.0 TW) and HSK/TOCFL lists.

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English

break

/bɹeɪk/
To separate into two or more pieces, to fracture or crack, by a process that cannot easily be reversed for reassembly.

    Etymology graph

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    • derived
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    • meaning component
    • sound component
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    Origin

    Etymology 1

    From Middle English breken, from Old English brecan (“to break”), from Proto-West Germanic *brekan, from Proto-Germanic *brekaną (“to break”), from Proto-Indo-European *bʰreg- (“to break”). Doublet of bray.

    Cognates

    Cognates of Germanic origin include Scots brek (“to break”), West Frisian brekke (“to break”), Dutch breken (“to break”), Low German breken (“to break”), German brechen (“to break”), French broyer (“to crush, grind”), Gothic 𐌱𐍂𐌹𐌺𐌰𐌽 (brikan, “to break, destroy”), Norwegian brek (“desire, yearning”).

    Also cognate with Albanian brishtë (“fragile”), Latin frangō (“break, break up, shatter”, verb), whence English fracture and other terms – fragile, frail, fraction, and fragment.

    The modern pronunciation shows an irregular change of Early Modern English /ɛː/ to /eɪ/ in the standard language; contrast this with the development of other words such as speak and wreak.

    Etymology 2

    Clipping of breakdown (the percussion break of songs chosen by a DJ for use in hip-hop music) and see also breakdancing.

    From Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.

    Lineage

    • inheritedMiddle Englishbreken “to break”
      • inheritedOld Englishbrecan
        • inheritedProto-West Germanic*brekan
    • derivedEnglishbreakdown “A failure, particularly one which is mechanical in nature.”
      • derivedEnglishbreak down “To stop functioning.”
        • partEnglishdown “From a higher position to a lower one; downwards.”
          • inheritedMiddle Englishdoun
            • borrowedOld Norsedúnn “down, down feather”
              • inheritedProto-Germanic*dūnaz “down”
              • derivedProto-Germanic*dūnaz “down”
            • inheritedOld Englishdūn “hill”
              • inheritedProto-West Germanic*dūnā “hill; sand dune”

    Related: English fracture, English bray (doublet), Scots brek, West Frisian brekke, Dutch breken, Low German breken, German brechen, French broyer, Gothic 𐌱𐍂𐌹𐌺𐌰𐌽, Norwegian brek, Albanian brishtë, Latin frangō

    Meanings

    verb
    1. To separate into two or more pieces, to fracture or crack, by a process that cannot easily be reversed for reassembly.
    2. To crack or fracture (bone) under a physical strain.
    3. To make the first shot; to scatter the balls from the initial neat arrangement.
    4. To divide (something, often money) into smaller units.
    5. To use a high-value denomination of currency, thus necessitating being given change in smaller denominations.
    6. To change the orderliness or compactness of an arrangement.
    noun
    1. An instance of breaking something into two or more pieces.
    2. A physical space that opens up in something or between two things.
    3. An interruption of continuity; departure from or rupture with.
    4. A rest or pause, usually from work.
    5. A time for students to talk or play between lessons.
    6. A scheduled interval of days or weeks between periods of school instruction; a holiday.

    Sources

    • Wiktionary (via Wiktextract / kaikki.org) — CC BY-SA 4.0
    • Wiktionary: break