ADJ

short
coffee, lunch, tea
Christmas, Easter
Are you going away for the Easter break?

VERB + BREAK

have, take
We'll take a break now and resume in half an hour
need

BREAK + NOUN

time

PREP

at ~
I'll see you at break
during (a/the) ~
I had a word with John during the break
without a ~
We worked all day without a break
~ for
a break for lunch
~ from
a break from looking after the children

ADJ

clean, complete
career
commercial

VERB + BREAK

make
His new work makes a break with the past. I wanted to leave but was nervous about making the break

PREP

~ from
a break from tradition
~ in
a break in the weather
~ with

ADJ

big, lucky

VERB + BREAK

get
I always knew I would get my lucky break one day
give sb
He's the director who gave her her first big break

ADV

completely, irretrievably
They were divorced on the grounds that their marriage had broken down irretrievably

PHRASES

break down and cry/weep, break down in tears
She broke down in tears as she spoke to reporters
break off

ADV

abruptly
He broke off abruptly when Jo walked in

PREP

from
She broke off from the conversation to answer the telephone