break: [OE] Break comes via prehistoric Germanic *brekan from the Indo-European base *bhreg-, which also produced Latin frangere ‘break’ (source of English fraction and fracture). Possibly related words include brake, bark ‘sound made by a dog’, and brigade, while the Germanic derived noun *brecho passed into English via Old French as breach [14] (Old English had the parallel form bryce, which died out). The application of broke (originally a variant of the past participle broken) to ‘insolvency’ dates from the 18th century. => bark, brake, breach, brigade, fraction, fracture
break (v.)
Old English brecan "to break, shatter, burst; injure, violate, destroy, curtail; break into, rush into; burst forth, spring out; subdue, tame" (class IV strong verb; past tense bræc, past participle brocen), from Proto-Germanic *brekan (cognates: Old Frisian breka, Dutch breken, Old High German brehhan, German brechen, Gothic brikan), from PIE root *bhreg- "to break" (see fraction). Most modern senses were in Old English. In reference to the heart from early 13c. Meaning "to disclose" is from early 13c.
Break bread "share food" (with) is from late 14c. Break the ice is c. 1600, in reference to the "coldness" of encounters of strangers. Break wind first attested 1550s. To break (something) out (1890s) probably is an image from dock work, of freeing cargo before unloading it. Ironic theatrical good luck formula break a leg has parallels in German Hals- und Beinbruch "break your neck and leg," and Italian in bocca al lupo. Evidence of a highly superstitious craft (see Macbeth).
break (n.)
c. 1300, "act of breaking," from break (v.). Sense of "short interval between spells of work" (originally between lessons at school) is from 1861. Meaning "stroke of luck" is attested by 1911, probably an image from billiards (where the break that starts the game is attested from 1865). Meaning "stroke of mercy" is from 1914. Musical sense, "improvised passage, solo" is attested from 1920s in jazz.
实用例句
1. It was feared they could break the Allies' codes.
恐怕他们会破译盟军的密码。
来自柯林斯例句
2. He charged into the crowd. "Break it up," he shouted.
他冲进人群，大喊道：“散开。”
来自柯林斯例句
3. I feel as if I should break into song.
我觉得自己应该放声歌唱。
来自柯林斯例句
4. I didn't mean to break his nose. I just saw red.
我不是故意要打断他的鼻梁。我只是一时气急。
来自柯林斯例句
5. A sudden break in the cloud allowed rescuers to spot Michael Benson.
