break

noun (INTERRUPTION)

/breɪk/

Definition

› [C] an interruption: Finally there was a break in the rain and we went out.Pauses and interludes › [C] mainly UK the short period of advertisements between television programmes: I'll make us a cup of tea in the next break.Pauses and interludesAdvertising, marketing and merchandisingRetailingBroadcasting in general A2 [C] a short period of rest, when food or drink is sometimes eaten: a coffee breakUK a tea break a lunch/dinner break We'll take another break at 3.30. They worked through the night without a break. Do you usually take a morning/afternoon break?Time off work › [U] mainly UK (also break time) the regular time in the middle of the morning or afternoon, for school students to talk or play, and sometimes have food or drink: We were talking about it at break.Pauses and interludes B1 [C] a time away from work or your regular activity, or a holiday: Take a couple of weeks off - you need a break. How long is the Christmas break this year? We decided to have a short/spring/winter/weekend break in Paris. I'll read your report over (= during) the Easter break. I need a break from typing.Tourism and holidaysHotels and hostelsTime off work give sb a break › to allow someone some time away from their work or regular activities: I babysit every Friday to give her a bit of a (= small) break.Tourism and holidaysHotels and hostelsTime off work › informal to stop criticizing or annoying someone, or behaving in an unpleasant way: Give her a break - she's only a child and she didn't mean any harm.Causing something to endComing to an end

(Definition of break noun (INTERRUPTION) from the Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary & Thesaurus © Cambridge University Press)