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[breakdown] See: NERVOUS BREAKDOWN.

[breaker] See: JAW-BREAKER.

[break even]{v. phr.}, {informal} (stress on "even") To end a series of gains and losses having the same amount you started with; have expenses equal to profits; have equal gain and loss. •/The storekeeper made many sales, but his expenses were so high that he just broke even./ •/If you gamble you are lucky when you break even./

[break-even]{n.} The point of equilibrium in a business venture when one has made as much money as one had invested, but not more — that would be "profit." •/"We’ve reached the break-even point at long last!" — Max exclaimed with joy./

[break ground]{v. phr.} To begin a construction project by digging for the foundation; especially, to turn the formal first spadeful of dirt. •/City officials and industrial leaders were there as the company broke ground for its new building./ See: BREAK NEW GROUND.

[break in]{v.} (stress on "in") 1a. To break from outside. •/The firemen broke in the door of the burning house./ 1b. To enter by force or unlawfully. •/Thieves broke in while the family was away./ 2. To enter suddenly or interrupt. •/A stranger broke in on the meeting without knocking./ •/The secretary broke in to say that a telegram had arrived./ Compare: CUT IN(2). 3. To make a start in a line of work or with a company or association; begin a new job. •/He broke in as a baseball player with a minor league./ 4. To teach the skills of a new job or activity to. •/An assistant foreman broke in the new man as a machine operator./ 5. To lessen the stiffness or newness of by use. •/He broke in a new pair of shoes./ •/Breaking in a new car requires careful driving at moderate speeds./

[break-in]{n.} (stress on "break") A robbery; a burglary. •/We lost our jewelry during a break-in./

[break into]{v.} 1. To force an entrance into; make a rough or unlawful entrance into. •/Thieves broke into the store at night./ 2. {informal} To succeed in beginning (a career, business, or a social life) •/He broke into television as an actor./ 3. To interrupt. •/He broke into the discussion with a shout of warning./ 4. To begin suddenly. •/He broke into a sweat./ •/She broke into tears./ •/The dog heard his master’s whistle and broke into a run./

[break new ground]{v. phr.} 1. To start a new activity previously neglected by others; do pioneering work. •/Albert Einstein broke new ground with his theory of relativity./ 2. To begin something never done before. •/The school broke new ground with reading lessons that taught students to guess the meaning of new words./