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break in verb 1 : to enter a building by force

2 : to hinder by speaking when another is speaking : INTERRUPT; also : INTRUDE

3 : TRAIN

— break–in noun

Synonyms

chime in, cut in, interpose, interrupt, intrude—more at INTERRUPT

break·neck adjective : very fast or dangerous <~ speed>

Synonyms

breathless, dizzy, fast, fleet, lightning, rapid, rattling, speedy, swift—more at FAST

break off verb : to stop abruptly : bring or come to an end

Synonyms

break, cease, cut, desist, discontinue, drop, end, halt, knock off, lay off, leave off, quit, shut off, stop—more at STOP

break out verb 1 : to develop or erupt suddenly or with force

2 : to develop a skin rash

Synonyms

burst, erupt, explode, flame, flare, go off—more at ERUPT

break·through noun 1 : an act or instance of breaking through an obstruction or defensive line

2 : a sudden advance in knowledge or technique

Synonyms

advance, advancement, enhancement, improvement, refinement—more at ADVANCE

break·up noun 1 : the act or process of dissolving : DISSOLUTION

2 : a division into smaller units

Synonyms

dissolution, division, partition, schism, separation, split—more at SEPARATION

break up verb 1 : to cease to exist as a unified whole

2 : to break into pieces

Synonyms

[1] disband, disperse, dissolve—more at DISBAND

[2] disconnect, disjoint, dissever, dissociate, disunite, divide, divorce, part, resolve, separate, sever, split, sunder, unyoke—more at SEPARATE

break·wa·ter noun : a structure protecting a harbor or beach from the force of waves

bream noun, plural bream or breams : any of various small freshwater sunfishes

breast noun 1 : either of the pair of mammary glands extending from the front of the chest esp. in pubescent and adult human females

2 : the front part of the body between the neck and the abdomen

3 : the seat of emotion and thought

breast·bone noun : STERNUM

breast–feed verb : to feed (a baby) from a mother's breast rather than from a bottle

breast·plate noun : a metal plate of armor for the breast

breast·stroke noun : a swimming stroke executed by extending both arms forward and then sweeping them back with palms out while kicking backward and outward with both legs

breast·work noun : a temporary fortification

breath noun 1 a : the act or power of breathing

b : opportunity or time to breathe; especially : a pause in an activity

2 : a slight breeze

3 : air inhaled or exhaled in breathing

4 : spoken sound

5 : SPIRIT

— breath·less·ly adverb

— breath·less·ness noun

— breathy adjective

Synonyms

[1b] break, breather, pause, recess, respite—more at BREAK

[2] air, breeze, puff, waft, zephyr—more at BREEZE

breathe verb breathed; breath·ing 1 : to inhale and exhale

2 : to be alive : LIVE

3 : to halt for rest

4 : to utter softly or secretly

— breath·able adjective

Synonyms

be, exist, live, subsist—more at BE

breath·er noun 1 : one that breathes

2 : a short rest

Synonyms

break, breath, recess, respite—more at BREAK

breath·less adjective 1 a : panting or gasping for breath

b : not breathing : not alive

2 : very rapid or strenuous

3 : oppressive because of no fresh air or breeze

Synonyms

[1b] dead, deceased, defunct, gone, late, lifeless—more at DEAD

[2] breakneck, brisk, dizzy, fast, fleet, hasty, lightning, nippy, quick, rapid, rattling, snappy, speedy, swift—more at FAST

[3] close, stuffy—more at STUFFY

breath·tak·ing adjective 1 : making one out of breath

2 : producing excitement : EXCITING, THRILLING <~ beauty>

— breath·tak·ing·ly adverb

Synonyms

electric, exciting, exhilarating, rousing, stirring, thrilling—more at EXCITING

brec·cia noun : a rock consisting of sharp fragments held in fine-grained material

breech noun 1 plural : trousers ending near the knee; also : PANTS

2 : the hind end of the body : BUTTOCKS, RUMP

3 : the part of a firearm at the rear of the barrel

1breed verb bred ; breed·ing 1 : BEGET; also : ORIGINATE

2 : to propagate sexually; also : MATE

3 : to bring (a person)