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To strain apart; to sever by fracture; to divide with violence; as, to break a rope or chain; to break a seal; to break an axle; to break rocks or coal; to break a lock. Shak.

A key or other device for breaking an electrical circuit.

Disruption; a separation and dispersion of the parts or members; as, a break-up of an assembly or dinner party; a break-up of the government.

Capable of being broken.

The act of breaking; a break; a breaking; also, articles broken.

An animal that breaks away from a herd.

See Dengue.

The act or result of breaking down, as of a carriage; downfall.

One who, or that which, breaks. I'll be no breaker of the law. Shak.

The first meal in the day, or that which is eaten at the first meal. A sorry breakfast for my lord protector. Shak.

See Brakeman.

A fall that breaks the neck.

Any structure or contrivance, as a mole, or a wall at the mouth of a harbor, to break the force of waves, and afford protection from their violence.

An ancient rural game, commonly played round stacks of barley, or other grain, in which some of the party attempt to catch others who run from a goal.

The time of the first appearance of light in the morning.

An interrupter in which contact is broken by the movement of an automatically vibrating hammer between a contact piece and an electromagnet, or of a rapidly moving piece mechanically driven.

Crushing sorrow or grief; a yielding to such grief. Shak.

Causing overpowering sorrow.

One who is guilty of the crime of housebreaking.

The act of breaking open and entering, with a felonious purpose, the dwelling house of another, whether done by day or night. See Burglary, and To break a house, under Break.