break away

verb

1. move away or escape suddenly (Freq. 2)

-

The horses broke from the stable

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Three inmates broke jail

-

Nobody can break out—this prison is high security

• Syn: ↑break, ↑break out

• Derivationally related forms: ↑breakout (for: ↑break out), ↑break (for: ↑break)

• Hypernyms: ↑escape, ↑get away, ↑break loose

• Verb Group: ↑break

• Verb Frames:

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Somebody ——s

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Something is ——ing PP

-

Somebody ——s PP

-

Somebody ——s something

(for: ↑break)

2. break off (a piece from a whole) (Freq. 1)

-

Her tooth chipped

• Syn: ↑chip, ↑chip off, ↑come off, ↑break off

• Derivationally related forms: ↑chip (for: ↑chip), ↑chipping (for: ↑chip)

• Hypernyms: ↑separate, ↑divide, ↑part

• Hyponyms: ↑peel off, ↑peel, ↑flake off, ↑flake, ↑exfoliate

• Verb Frames:

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Something ——s

-

Something is ——ing PP

3. interrupt a continued activity

-

She had broken with the traditional patterns

• Syn: ↑break

• Derivationally related forms: ↑break (for: ↑break)

• Hypernyms: ↑separate, ↑part, ↑split up, ↑split, ↑break, ↑break up

• Verb Frames:

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Something is ——ing PP

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Somebody ——s PP

4. withdraw from an organization or communion

-

After the break up of the Soviet Union, many republics broke away

• Syn: ↑secede, ↑splinter

• Derivationally related forms: ↑breakaway, ↑secession (for: ↑secede)

• Hypernyms: ↑separate, ↑part, ↑split up, ↑split, ↑break, ↑break up

• Verb Frames:

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Something ——s

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Somebody ——s

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Something is ——ing PP

-

Somebody ——s PP

5. flee; take to one's heels; cut and run

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If you see this man, run!

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The burglars escaped before the police showed up

• Syn:

↑scat, ↑run, ↑scarper, ↑turn tail, ↑lam, ↑run away, ↑hightail it, ↑bunk, ↑head for the hills, ↑take to the woods, ↑escape, ↑fly the coop

• Derivationally related forms: ↑runaway (for: ↑run away), ↑lam (for: ↑lam)

• Hypernyms: ↑leave, ↑go forth, ↑go away

• Hyponyms: ↑flee, ↑fly, ↑take flight, ↑skedaddle

• Verb Frames:

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Something ——s

-

Somebody ——s

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Somebody ——s PP

* * *

(of a person) escape from someone's hold

■ escape from the control of a person, group, or practice

an attempt to break away from the elitism that has dominated the book trade

■ (of a competitor in a race) move into the lead

■ (of a material or object) become detached from its base, typically through decay or under force

* * *

break away [phrasal verb]

1 : to get away from someone or something especially by using force or effort

Large pieces of the rock ledge have broken away. [=broken free]

— usually + from

He broke away [=broke free/loose] from his captors and escaped.

She broke away [=pulled away] from the other runners to win the race.

— often used figuratively

The company has broken away from the competition.

young people breaking away from traditional values

2 : to separate or become separate from a larger group, country, etc.

Three members of the band broke away and formed their own group.

— usually + from

a faction that has broken away from the main political party

see also ↑breakaway

• • •

Main Entry: ↑break