breach en · NOUN
Pronunciation
- /ˈbɹiːt͡ʃ/ (Received-Pronunciation)
- /ˈbɹiːt͡ʃ/ (Australia)
- (California, Southern) audio
- /ˈbɹit͡ʃ/ (Canada, General-American)
- [ˈbɹʷɪi̯t͡ʃ] (Australia) cultivated
- [ˈbɹʷɪi̯t͡ʃ] (Received-Pronunciation)
- /ˈbɹiːt͡ʃ/ (New-Zealand)
- (Texas) audio
Etymology
From Middle English breche, from Old English bryċe (“fracture, breach”) and brǣċ (“breach, breaking, destruction”), from Proto-West Germanic *bruki, from Proto-Germanic *brukiz (“breach, fissure”) and *brēkō (“breaking”).
Meanings
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A gap or opening made by breaking or battering, as in a wall, fortification or levee / embankment; the space between the parts of a solid body rent by violence.
Services between Glasgow Queen Street and Edinburgh Waverley via Falkirk High are currently suspended, following a 30-metre breach of the Union Canal that occurred on August 12 after torrential rain and thunderstorms. The thousands of gallons of water that cascaded onto the railway line below washed away track, ballast and overhead line equipment, and undermined embankments along a 300-metre section of Scotland's busiest rail link.
2020 August 26, “Network News: Major flood damage severs key Edinburgh-Glasgow rail artery”, in Rail, page 21:"Once more unto the breach, dear friends, once more; Or close the wall up with our English dead."
1599 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Life of Henry the Fift”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene i]:
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The act of breaking, in a figurative sense.
But were the poet to make a total difression from his subject, and introduce a new actor, nowise connected with the personages, the imagination, feeling a breach in transition, would enter coldly into the new scene;
1748, David Hume, Enquiry concerning Human Understanding, Section 3, § 12:
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A breaking or infraction of a law, or of any obligation or tie; violation; non-fulfillment.
breach of promise
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A breaking up of amicable relations, a falling out.
There's fallen between him and my lord / An unkind breach.
c. 1603–1604 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Othello, the Moore of Venice”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene i]:
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(figuratively) A difference in opinions, social class, etc.
For London to have its own exclusive immigration policy would exacerbate the sense that immigration benefits only certain groups and disadvantages the rest. It would entrench the gap between London and the rest of the nation. And it would widen the breach between the public and the elite that has helped fuel anti-immigrant hostility.
2013 September 28, Kenan Malik, “London Is Special, but Not That Special”, in New York Times, retrieved 28 Sep 2013:
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A breaking of waters, as over a vessel or a coastal defence; the waters themselves.
And Dauid came to Baal-Perazim, and Daiud ſmote them there, and ſaid, The Lord hath broken foorth vpon mine enemies before me, as the breach of waters.
1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, 2 Samuel 5:20, column 1:A clear breach is when the waves roll over the vessel without breaking. A clean breach is when everything on deck is swept away.
I cast my eye to the stranded vessel, when, the breach and froth of the sea being so big, I could hardly see it, it lay so far of; and considered, Lord! how was it possible I could get on shore.
1719, Daniel Defoe, Robinson Crusoe:
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A breaking out upon; an assault.
And Dauid was diſpleaſed, becauſe the Lord had made a breach vpon Uzza; wherefore that place is called Perez-Uzza, to this day.
1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, 1 Chronicles 13:11, columns 1–2:
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(archaic) A bruise; a wound.
Breach, for breach, eye for eye, tooth for tooth: as he hath cauſed a blemiſh in a man, ſo ſhall it be done to him againe.
1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Leviticus 24:20, column 1:An vncouth paine torments my grieued ſoule, And death arreſts the organe of my voyce. Who entring at the breach thy ſword hath made, Sackes euery vaine and artier of my heart, […]
c. 1587–1588 (date written), [Christopher Marlowe], Tamburlaine the Great. […] The First Part […], 2nd edition, part 1, London: […] [R. Robinson for] Richard Iones, […], published 1592, →OCLC; reprinted as Tamburlaine the Great (A Scolar Press Facsimile), Menston, Yorkshire; London: Scolar Press, 1973, →ISBN, Act II, scene vii:
- (archaic) A hernia; a rupture.
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| breaches | Number=Plur | lexicographic |
Deriveds
hull breach (Terms derived from breach (noun)) · breach of the peace (Terms derived from breach (noun)) · data breach (Terms derived from breach (noun)) · step into the breach (Terms derived from breach (noun)) · sea breach (Terms derived from breach (noun)) · breachy (Terms derived from breach (noun)) · anticipatory breach (Terms derived from breach (noun)) · once more into the breach (Terms derived from breach (noun)) · prebreach (Terms derived from breach (noun)) · faithbreach (Terms derived from breach (noun)) · breach of contract (Terms derived from breach (noun)) · cyberbreach (Terms derived from breach (noun)) · honour in the breach (Terms derived from breach (noun)) · wedbreach (Terms derived from breach (noun)) · breachful (Terms derived from breach (noun)) · spousebreach (Terms derived from breach (noun)) · breachless (Terms derived from breach (noun)) · grithbreach (Terms derived from breach (noun)) · more honored in the breach (Terms derived from breach (noun)) · breach of confidence (Terms derived from breach (noun)) · material breach (Terms derived from breach (noun)) · honor in the breach (Terms derived from breach (noun)) · breach of trust (Terms derived from breach (noun)) · oathbreach (Terms derived from breach (noun)) · megabreach (Terms derived from breach (noun)) · breach of promise (Terms derived from breach (noun))
Synonyms
break · gap · surf · rupture · fissure · rift · rupture · surge · break
Translations (128)
cs porušení (break of a law or obligation) · hu rés (a gap or opening made by breaking or battering) · fr infraction (break of a law or obligation) · fi välirikko (breaking up of amicable relations) · tr boşluk (a gap or opening made by breaking or battering) · hu összeveszés (breaking up of amicable relations) · mi mokotawhā (a gap or opening made by breaking or battering) · wa schård (a gap or opening made by breaking or battering) · hu -sértés (break of a law or obligation) · de Verstoß (break of a law or obligation) · io brecho (a gap or opening made by breaking or battering) · es brecha (figuratively: the act of breaking) · ru разры́в (figuratively: the act of breaking) · ru наруше́ние (break of a law or obligation) · ga bearna (a gap or opening made by breaking or battering) · pl naruszenie (figuratively: the act of breaking) · nl branding (breaking of waves) · oc ruptura (breaking up of amicable relations) · hu viszály (breaking up of amicable relations) · nl schending (break of a law or obligation) · mi takahanga (break of a law or obligation) · ru проло́м (a gap or opening made by breaking or battering) · bg нарушение (break of a law or obligation) · fr brèche (a gap or opening made by breaking or battering) · no brudd (a gap or opening made by breaking or battering) · it breccia (figuratively: the act of breaking) · nl inbreuk (break of a law or obligation) · tl pagtatalusira (break of a law or obligation) · hu törés (figuratively: the act of breaking) · hu hasadék (a gap or opening made by breaking or battering) · gd briseadh (figuratively: the act of breaking) · ota فرج (a gap or opening made by breaking or battering) · hu megsértés (break of a law or obligation) · hu szakadás (a gap or opening made by breaking or battering) · mi tūātea (breaking of waves) · ru невыполне́ние (figuratively: the act of breaking) · tr kanun dışı iş yapmak (break of a law or obligation) · ga bearna bhaoil (a gap or opening made by breaking or battering) · pt término (breaking up of amicable relations) · de Bruch (figuratively: the act of breaking) · fi hyökkäys (assault) · pt brecha (figuratively: the act of breaking) · ro breșă (figuratively: the act of breaking) · oc violacion (break of a law or obligation) · de Bruch (breaking up of amicable relations) · pl naruszenie (break of a law or obligation) · fi murros (figuratively: the act of breaking) · es saltación afuera del agua (breaking of waves) · ru штурм (assault) · fi murtuminen (breaking of waves) · hu szakítás (breaking up of amicable relations) · ru брешь (a gap or opening made by breaking or battering) · ca bretxa (a gap or opening made by breaking or battering) · ml വിടവ് (a gap or opening made by breaking or battering) · pl wyłom (a gap or opening made by breaking or battering) · hu repedés (a gap or opening made by breaking or battering) · eo breĉo (a gap or opening made by breaking or battering) · fr violation (break of a law or obligation) · it violazione (break of a law or obligation) · hu visszaélés (break of a law or obligation) · pl wyrwa (a gap or opening made by breaking or battering) · es brecha (a gap or opening made by breaking or battering) · ru разры́в отноше́ний (breaking up of amicable relations) · mi wāhanga (figuratively: the act of breaking) · nl breuk (figuratively: the act of breaking) · tl talusira (break of a law or obligation) · hu megszegés (break of a law or obligation) · es adentramiento (a gap or opening made by breaking or battering) · bg прибой (breaking of waves) · hi दरार (a gap or opening made by breaking or battering) · fi rikkominen (break of a law or obligation) · ar خَرْق (break of a law or obligation) · hi उल्लंघन (break of a law or obligation) · ro încălcare (break of a law or obligation) · tr kırmak (figuratively: the act of breaking) · es batería (a gap or opening made by breaking or battering) · bg пробив (a gap or opening made by breaking or battering) · de Brechen (breaking of waves) · wa schiråde (a gap or opening made by breaking or battering) · es quebrada (breaking of waves) · es boquete (a gap or opening made by breaking or battering) · hu hullámtörés (breaking of waves) · fi rikkomus (break of a law or obligation) · nn brot (a gap or opening made by breaking or battering) · ml വിള്ളൽ (a gap or opening made by breaking or battering) · wa sketaedje (figuratively: the act of breaking) · hu -szegés (break of a law or obligation) · gd briseadh (break of a law or obligation) · eu akats (a gap or opening made by breaking or battering) · hu elhidegülés (breaking up of amicable relations) · ru наруше́ние (figuratively: the act of breaking) · hu nézeteltérés (breaking up of amicable relations) · es brecha (break of a law or obligation) · mi puapua (breaking of waves) · nl breken (breaking of waves) · hi अतिचार (break of a law or obligation) · mi takahitanga (break of a law or obligation) · nl breken (figuratively: the act of breaking) · it breccia (a gap or opening made by breaking or battering) · it infrazione (break of a law or obligation) · id wanprestasi (break of a law or obligation) · mi wāwāhinga (figuratively: the act of breaking) · pt infração (break of a law or obligation) · nl bres (a gap or opening made by breaking or battering) · pt violação (break of a law or obligation) · hi विच्छेद (breaking up of amicable relations) · hu hasadás (a gap or opening made by breaking or battering) · fr brouille (breaking up of amicable relations) · bg скъсване на отношения (breaking up of amicable relations) · fi murtuma (a gap or opening made by breaking or battering) · tr saldırı (assault) · es salto fuera del agua (breaking of waves) · es brecha (assault) · nl breuk (breaking up of amicable relations) · bg цепнатина (a gap or opening made by breaking or battering) · es expugnación (a gap or opening made by breaking or battering) · bg разбиване на вълни (breaking of waves) · pt brecha (a gap or opening made by breaking or battering) · fr bris (break of a law or obligation) · de Bruch (a gap or opening made by breaking or battering) · sv bräsch (a gap or opening made by breaking or battering) · wa trô (a gap or opening made by breaking or battering) · nl gat (a gap or opening made by breaking or battering) · de Bresche (a gap or opening made by breaking or battering) · pt fissura (a gap or opening made by breaking or battering) · nb overtredelse (break of a law or obligation) · hi अतिक्रम (break of a law or obligation) · gd briseadh (breaking up of amicable relations)