break up

break up
phrasal verb
Word forms "break up":
present tense I/you/we/they break up he/she/it breaks up present participle breaking up past tense broke up past participle broken up
1)
a) [transitive] to break something to make smaller pieces

Break the chocolate up into squares.

b) [intransitive] if something breaks up, it breaks into smaller pieces

The plane broke up in mid-air.

2)
a) [intransitive/transitive] if a relationship breaks up, it ends

The marriage broke up just a few years later.

There were suggestions that her involvement had broken up the partnership.

b) [intransitive/transitive] if two people break up, they end their relationship
break up with:

He's just broken up with his girlfriend.

3) [intransitive/transitive] if a meeting or other event breaks up, or if you break it up, it ends and people leave

The talks didn't break up until after midnight.

Sorry to break up the party, but I have to go.

4) [transitive] to stop a fight

The police were called in to break up the rioters.

5) [intransitive] if the sound on a radio or mobile phone breaks up, you can no longer hear the person who is speaking on it

I can't hear you, you're breaking up.

6) [intransitive] British if schools break up, or if students or teachers break up, the students and teachers stop working at the end of term
7) [transitive] to divide a large area or a period of time into smaller parts so that it does not seem so big or long

I usually go for a walk around three o'clock to break up the afternoon.


English dictionary. 2014.

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Look at other dictionaries:

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