break verb [transitive] to damage something and make it separate into pieces, for example by dropping it or hitting it:
Careful you don’t break the chair. He broke his leg.smash verb [transitive] to break something with a lot of force:
A policeman smashed his camera.snap verb [transitive] to break something into two pieces, making a loud noise – used especially about long thin objects:
He snapped the sticks in two.split verb [transitive] to separate something into two pieces along a straight line:
Using a sharp knife, split the melon in half.fracture verb [transitive] to damage a bone, especially so that a line appears on the surface:
I fell over and fractured my wrist.tear /teə $ ter/
verb [transitive] to damage paper or cloth by pulling it so that it separates into pieces:
She tore up the letter and put it in the bin. I tore my jacket.shatter verb [intransitive] to break into a lot of small pieces:
The glass shattered all over the pavement.crack verb [intransitive] if something cracks, a line appears on the surface, which means that it could later break into separate pieces:
The ice was starting to crack.burst verb [intransitive] if a tyre, balloon, pipe etc bursts, it gets a hole and air or liquid suddenly comes out of it:
She blew up the balloon until it burst.crumble verb [intransitive] to break into a powder or a lot of small pieces:
The cork just crumbled in my hand.have/take a break After two hours, she took a break and switched on the radio.need a break I’m sorry, I can’t do any more - I need a break.a short/quick break Shall we have a quick five-minute break?a lunch break What time’s your lunch break?a coffee/tea break How about a coffee break?a morning/afternoon break I don’t usually have time for a morning break.a well-earned break (=one that you deserve) Everyone’s looking forward to a well-earned break when the exams are over.vacation especially American English,
holiday especially British English time you spend away from school or work:
Are you taking a vacation this summer? We met on holiday in Cyprus. What are you doing in the school holidays?holiday a day that is set by law, when no one has to go to work or school:
the Thanksgiving holiday New Year's Day is a national holiday. In 2002, there was an extra public holiday to mark the Queen's golden jubilee. the August bank holiday (=day when all the banks and shops are closed – used in British English)leave a time when you are allowed not to work:
We get four weeks' annual leave (=paid time off work each year). He has been taking a lot of sick leave (=time off work because you are ill) recently. Angela is on maternity leave (= time off work when having a baby). He was given compassionate leave (=time off work because someone close to you has died, is very ill etc) to go to his father's funeral.sabbatical [usually singular] a period when someone, especially a teacher, stops doing their usual work in order to study or travel:
She was on sabbatical for six months. I'm thinking of taking a sabbatical.furlough a period of time when a soldier or someone working in another country can return to their own country as a holiday:
While on furlough, he and his girlfriend got married.R & R (rest and relaxation) a holiday, especially one given to people in the army, navy etc after a long period of hard work or during a war:
Soldiers in Vietnam were taken to Hawaii for R & R. [TahlilGaran] English Thesaurus ▲