Dictionary

broke en · ADJ · etymology 1

Pronunciation

• /ˈbɹɔʊ̯k/ (Canada, General-American)
• /ˈbɹəʊ̯k/ (Received-Pronunciation)
• /ˈbɹoʊ̯k/ (Canada, General-American)
• /bɹɒk/ (Northumbria)
• (US) audio

Etymology

Ablauted form of break.

Meanings

1. (informal, not-comparable, usually) Financially ruined, bankrupt.
   • He was broke after spending all his money into video games.
   • It seems some of his Creditors have taken notice of it, and he was like to be broke yesterday in his absence. 1665 July 6, Samuel Pepys, Vol. VI, p. 150
2. (informal, not-comparable, usually) Without any money, penniless.
   • dead broke; flat broke
3. (archaic, informal, not-comparable, usually) Broken.
   • I can't get used to living here / While my heart is broke, my tears I cry for you 1973, “Photograph”, in Ringo, performed by Ringo Starr:
   • If the farmer is seriously injured by the depressed state of the markets, his spirit is broke, and there must ensue a very general discredit with regard to the farming business; 1822, William Wolryche Whitmore, A Letter on the Present State and Future Prospects of Agriculture, page 53:
   • If it ain’t broke, don't fix it.
   • Watkins notified the shop foreman immediately, whereupon the car was inspected and found to have a broke axle. 1983, Chicago Transit Authority, CTA Transit News, volume 36, page 8:
   • A broke horse tries to do anything I want, and that is expected of any horse. 2011, Mike Major, Fran Devereux Smith, Ranch-Horse Versatility: A Winner's Guide to Successful Rides:
4. (not-comparable, usually) Demoted, deprived of a commission.
   • He was broke and rendered unfit to serve His Majesty at sea.

Forms

Deriveds

go woke, go broke · if it ain't broke, don't fix it · broker than the Ten Commandments · stony broke · brokeass · brokeness · heartbroke · go for broke · gunbroke · broke as a joke · greenbroke · nobody ever went broke underestimating the intelligence of the American people · broke-ass · stone broke

Descendants

broke

Synonyms

poverty-stricken · needy · destitute · stuck · insolvent · necessitous · broken · poor as a rat · almsless · pauperized · penniless · down and out · flat · beggarly · groatless · stony-broke · feeling the pinch · down on one's luck · poverty-ridden · down on one's uppers · goodless · farthingless · broke · badly off · hard up · down at heel · arm · impecunious · possessionless · moneyless · boracic · skint · bankrupt · beggared · strapped · poor · lower-class · threadbare · indigent · in need · pinched · stone-broke · penurious · shillingless · unwealthy · broker than the Ten Commandments · impoverished · pok kai · dirt poor · depauperate · poor as Job · wealthless · disadvantaged · oofless · empty-handed · poor as a church mouse

Translations (74)

es sin un duro (lacking money; bankrupt) · ru на мели́ (lacking money; bankrupt) · fr à sec (lacking money; bankrupt) · cmn 沒錢 /没钱 (lacking money; bankrupt) · ru обанкро́тившийся (lacking money; bankrupt) · pt quebrado (lacking money; bankrupt) · it in bancarotta (lacking money; bankrupt) · hu pénztelen (lacking money; bankrupt) · ru разорённый (lacking money; bankrupt) · fr désargenté (lacking money; bankrupt) · de pleite (lacking money; bankrupt) · uk банкру́т (lacking money; bankrupt) · es sin blanca (lacking money; bankrupt) · fi persaukinen (lacking money; bankrupt) · cs švorc (lacking money; bankrupt) · eo senmona (lacking money; bankrupt) · it fallito (lacking money; bankrupt) · ru разори́вшийся (lacking money; bankrupt) · es bruja (lacking money; bankrupt) · pt duro (lacking money; bankrupt) · ca pelat (lacking money; bankrupt) · gl a pan pedir (lacking money; bankrupt) · bg разорен (lacking money; bankrupt) · es acabado (lacking money; bankrupt) · hu le van égve (lacking money; bankrupt) · cs bez peněz (lacking money; bankrupt) · cs na dně (lacking money; bankrupt) · de broke (lacking money; bankrupt) · tr meteliksiz (lacking money; bankrupt) · es mishio (lacking money; bankrupt) · sh шворц (lacking money; bankrupt) · ota باتقین (lacking money; bankrupt) · fr fauché (lacking money; bankrupt) · pl spłukany (lacking money; bankrupt) · es chele (lacking money; bankrupt) · no blakk (lacking money; bankrupt) · cmn 手緊 /手紧 (lacking money; bankrupt) · ar مُفْلِس (lacking money; bankrupt) · uk банкро́т (lacking money; bankrupt) · ja すっからかん (lacking money; bankrupt) · es arrancado (lacking money; bankrupt) · es estril (lacking money; bankrupt) · es arrollado (lacking money; bankrupt) · br kras (lacking money; bankrupt) · fi auki (lacking money; bankrupt) · es sin un peso (lacking money; bankrupt) · es tieso (lacking money; bankrupt) · hu nincs egy vasa sem (lacking money; bankrupt) · es misio (lacking money; bankrupt) · pt liso (lacking money; bankrupt) · es liso (lacking money; bankrupt) · ru без гроша́ (lacking money; bankrupt) · es aguja (lacking money; bankrupt) · nl blut (lacking money; bankrupt) · mi mone (lacking money; bankrupt) · tr züğürt (lacking money; bankrupt) · de abgebrannt (lacking money; bankrupt) · es ajustado (lacking money; bankrupt) · ro lefter (lacking money; bankrupt) · sh švorc (lacking money; bankrupt) · da flad (lacking money; bankrupt) · it al verde (lacking money; bankrupt) · cs na mizině (lacking money; bankrupt) · af platsak (lacking money; bankrupt) · es pelado (lacking money; bankrupt) · ru безде́нежный (lacking money; bankrupt) · fi rahaton (lacking money; bankrupt) · sv pank (lacking money; bankrupt) · tr müflis (lacking money; bankrupt) · es lavado (lacking money; bankrupt) · sw msoto (lacking money; bankrupt) · cmn 手頭緊 /手头紧 (lacking money; bankrupt) · es a dos velas (lacking money; bankrupt) · el άφραγκος (lacking money; bankrupt)

broke en · VERB · etymology 1

Pronunciation

• /ˈbɹɔʊ̯k/ (Canada, General-American)
• /ˈbɹəʊ̯k/ (Received-Pronunciation)
• /ˈbɹoʊ̯k/ (Canada, General-American)
• /bɹɒk/ (Northumbria)
• (US) audio

Etymology

Ablauted form of break.

Meanings

1. (form-of, past) simple past of break
   form of break
2. (archaic, form-of, nonstandard, participle, past, poetic) past participle of break
   form of break
   • Accordingly, he came with a mob the next day; and after they had broke all the windows... 1853, John Welsey, The Works of the Rev. John Wesley, Volume 7, page 261:
   • The horse was the grey stallion he aye rode, the very beast he had ridden for many a wager with the wild lads of the Cross Keys. No man but himself durst back it, and it had lamed many a hostler lad and broke two necks in its day. 1902, John Buchan, The Outgoing of the Tide:
   • 1999 October 3, J. Stewart Burns, "Mars University", Futurama, season 2, episode 2, Fox Broadcasting Company Guenther: I guess the hat must have broke my fall.

broke en · NOUN · etymology 2

Pronunciation

• /ˈbɹɔʊ̯k/ (Canada, General-American)
• /ˈbɹəʊ̯k/ (Received-Pronunciation)
• /ˈbɹoʊ̯k/ (Canada, General-American)
• /bɹɒk/ (Northumbria)
• (US) audio

Etymology

From Middle English broce, from Old English gebroc (“fragment”), from brecan (“to break”). Compare broken, past participle of break. Compare also Scots brock (“a scrap of meat or bread”).

Meanings

1. Paper or board that is discarded and repulped during the manufacturing process.
   • These mills purchase broke from other paper mills through middlemen and use it to make paper. 2014 September 25, Judge Diane Wood, NCR Corp. v. George A. Whiting Paper Co.:
   • If the broke accumulates, a larger proportion can be used in making coloured papers, otherwise the above quantity is sufiicient. 1880, James Dunbar, The Practical Papermaker: A Complete Guide to the Manufacture of Paper, page 12:
   • Presumably, most of the brokes and waste were used up in this manner, and during the manufacture of the coarse stuff little or no attention was paid to either cleanliness or colour. 1914, The World's Paper Trade Review Volume 62, page 204:
2. (obsolete) A fragment, remains, a piece broken off.
   • Why dost though linger, then, / To hear the flatteries of these men of rags? / These bankrupt beggar-men, / Whose riches are the broke meat in their bags? 1855, January Searle, Poems, page 4:

Forms

broke en · VERB · etymology 3

Pronunciation

• /ˈbɹɔʊ̯k/ (Canada, General-American)
• /ˈbɹəʊ̯k/ (Received-Pronunciation)
• /ˈbɹoʊ̯k/ (Canada, General-American)
• /bɹɒk/ (Northumbria)
• (US) audio

Etymology

Back-formation from broker.

Meanings

1. To act as a broker; to transact business for another; synonym of broker.
   • […]because the Spanish equity market was substantially over-broked even at the height of its bull market, with over 50 brokers servicing the market. 1992, Philippe Moore, The 1992 guide to European equity markets:
   • The only evidence of bill-broking is, that he has often been a party to bills of exchange 1837, Comprising Reports of Cases in the Courts of Chancery […] :
   • Agents broking with various other carriers can offer additional options.
2. (obsolete) To act as procurer in love matters; to pimp.
   • But we do want a certain necessary / Woman, to broke between them CUPID said; 1655 [1572], Luís de Camões, translated by Richard Fanshawe, The Lusiad, translation of original in Portuguese, Canto IX, stanza 44:
   • And brokes with all that can in such a suit / Corrupt the tender honour of a maid. c. 1604–1605 (date written), William Shakespeare, “All’s Well, that Ends Well”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene v]:

Forms

broke en · ADJ · etymology 4

Pronunciation

• /ˈbɹɔʊ̯k/ (Canada, General-American)
• /ˈbɹəʊ̯k/ (Received-Pronunciation)
• /ˈbɹoʊ̯k/ (Canada, General-American)
• /bɹɒk/ (Northumbria)
• (US) audio

Etymology

Clipping of broke off.

Meanings

1. (slang) Broke off, rich, wealthy

Forms