Commentary: Includes: BREAK DOWN; BREAK OFF; BREAK OPEN; BREAK UP
Examples:
Thionic bacteria can break down pipe steel.
First we should break down the problem into manageable chunks.
The arm on this figurine broke off during the move.
He broke open the box as soon as he saw it on the table.
The pinata broke open when it hit the floor.
The crowd broke up when it started to rain.
The satellite broke up when it hit the atmosphere.
The cookie broke up after sitting in the milk.
The book dealer would not break up the set.
The icebergs broke up in the warming water.
Mappings:
VerbNet: break-45.1
FrameNet: Cause_to_fragment
PropBank: break.01,break.04,break.08
WordNet Verb Particle Constructions, Multiword Expressions:
break_open 1, 2
break_off 3, 4, 5
break_down 2, 7
break_up 1, 3, 4, 6, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 16, 17, 18
Examples:
My car broke down this morning.
Negotiations broke down after the ambassador insulted the president.
Martin Luther King, Jr., tried to break down racial discrimination.
Mappings:
VerbNet: break-45.1
FrameNet: Render_nonfunctional
PropBank: NM
WordNet Verb Particle Constructions, Multiword Expressions:
break_down 1, 4, 5
Commentary: Includes: BREAK AWAY; BREAK IN; BREAK OFF; BREAK UP; BREAK WITH
Examples:
The southern states tried to break away from the union during the Civil War.
She always breaks in when we're trying to have a serious conversation.
They broke off the engagement right before the wedding.
We broke off our vacation because of the bad weather.
Tina and Mike broke up after dating for a year.
The icebergs broke up in the warm weather.
The tobacco monopoly broke up.
His continued infidelity broke up the marriage.
The 13 colonies broke with England during the Revolution.
Mappings:
VerbNet: NM
FrameNet: NM
PropBank: break.03
WordNet Verb Particle Constructions, Multiword Expressions:
break_away 3, 4
break_up 2, 5, 13, 14, 15
break_short 1
break_off 1, 2
break_with 1
break_in 2, 4
Commentary: Includes: BREAK AWAY; BREAK IN; BREAK INTO; BREAK LOOSE; BREAK OUT
Examples:
The man broke away from the crowd and fled down the alley.
How do I break in to acting?
Sandra was so happy, she broke into song.
The horse broke into a gallop.
All his pent-up anger broke loose.
The convict broke loose from the maximum-security prison.
War broke out the following spring.
The pigs broke out of the pen.
Why not break out the champagne?
Whenever I eat strawberries, I break out in hives.
Mappings:
VerbNet: NM
FrameNet: Process_start
PropBank: break.06,break.07,break.10
WordNet Verb Particle Constructions, Multiword Expressions:
break_into 1, 2
break_loose 1, 2
break_open 3
break_out 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
break_away 1, 2
break_in 3
Commentary: Includes: BREAK THROUGH
Examples:
The rescue team broke through the wall in the mine shaft.
When will that molar break through the gums?
Mappings:
VerbNet: NM
FrameNet: NM
PropBank: NM
WordNet Verb Particle Constructions, Multiword Expressions:
break_through 2, 3
Commentary: Includes: BREAK IN
Examples:
The thieves broke in after we had left.
Mappings:
VerbNet: NM
FrameNet: NM
PropBank: break.02
WordNet 3.0 Sense Numbers: 11
WordNet Verb Particle Constructions, Multiword Expressions:
break_in 1
Commentary: Includes: BREAK IN
Examples:
I like to break in new hiking boots before actually going on a hike.
Mappings:
VerbNet: NM
FrameNet: NM
PropBank: break.02
Commentary: Includes: BREAK DOWN; BREAK UP
Examples:
She broke down and started to cry.
It was so funny when he slipped, we broke up laughing.
After Pam left him, he just broke up.
Mappings:
VerbNet: NM
FrameNet: NM
PropBank: NM
WordNet Verb Particle Constructions, Multiword Expressions:
break_down 3, 6, 8
break_up 7, 19
Examples:
People like to say they broke even, when, really, they lost money.
Mappings:
VerbNet: NM
FrameNet: NM
PropBank: break.09
WordNet Verb Particle Constructions, Multiword Expressions:
break_even 1
Commentary: Includes: BREAK BREAD; BREAK CAMP; BREAK DANCE; BREAK ONE'S BACK; BREAK SOMEONE'S HEART; BREAK WATER; BREAK WIND
Examples:
The early Christians broke bread together.
They broke camp early in the morning so they could reach their next spot by nightfall.
Learn some great breakdance moves with this instructional video.
This housework is going to break my back.
Sean broke Amanda's heart when he cheated on her.
The sharks broke water with their fins.
Eating those beans will make you break wind.
Mappings:
VerbNet: NM
FrameNet: NM
PropBank: NM
WordNet Verb Particle Constructions, Multiword Expressions:
break_one's_back 1
break_camp 1
break_dance 1
break_someone's heart
break_wind 1
break_bread 1
break_water 1