ALL meanings of break ground
break ground
B b - noun break ground to do something that has not been done before 3
- noun break ground to dig; excavate 3
- noun break ground to plow 3
- noun break ground to start building 3
- noun break ground to start any undertaking 3
- verb without object break ground to express or start to express an emotion or mood: His face broke into a smile. 1
- verb without object break ground to free oneself or escape suddenly, as from restraint or dependency (often followed by away): He broke away from the arresting officer. She finally broke away from her parents and got an apartment of her own. 1
- verb without object break ground to run or dash toward something suddenly (usually followed by for): The pass receiver broke for the goal line. 1
- verb without object break ground to force a way (usually followed by in, into, or through): The hunters broke through the underbrush. 1
- verb without object break ground to burst or rupture: A blood vessel broke in his nose. The blister broke when he pricked it. 1
- verb without object break ground to interrupt or halt an activity (usually followed by in, into, forth, or from): Don't break in on the conversation. Let's break for lunch. 1
- verb without object break ground to appear or arrive suddenly (usually followed by in, into, or out): A deer broke into the clearing. A rash broke out on her arm. 1
- verb without object break ground to dawn: The day broke hot and sultry. 1
- verb without object break ground to begin violently and suddenly: The storm broke. 1
- verb without object break ground (of a storm, foul weather, etc.) to cease: The weather broke after a week, and we were able to sail for home. 1
- verb without object break ground to part the surface of water, as a jumping fish or surfacing submarine. 1
- verb without object break ground to give way or fail, as health, strength, or spirit; collapse: After years of hardship and worry, his health broke. 1
- verb without object break ground to yield or submit to pressure, torture, or the like: He broke under questioning. 1
- verb without object break ground (of the heart) to be overwhelmed with sorrow: Her heart broke when he told her that he no longer loved her. 1
- verb without object break ground (of the voice or a musical instrument) to change harshly from one register or pitch to another: After his voice broke, he could no longer sing soprano parts. 1
- verb without object break ground (of the voice) to cease, waver, or change tone abruptly, especially from emotional strain: His voice broke when he mentioned her name. 1
- verb without object break ground (of value or prices) to drop sharply and considerably. 1
- verb without object break ground to disperse or collapse by colliding with something: The waves broke on the shore. 1
- verb without object break ground to break dance. 1
- verb without object break ground (of a horse in a harness race) to fail to keep to a trot or pace, as by starting to gallop. 1
- verb without object break ground Botany. to mutate; sport. 1
- verb without object break ground Linguistics. to undergo breaking. 1
- verb without object break ground Billiards, Pool. to make a break; take the first turn in a game. 1
- verb without object break ground Sports. (of a pitched or bowled ball) to change direction: The ball broke over the plate. 1
- verb without object break ground Horse Racing, Track. to leave the starting point: The horses broke fast from the gate. 1
- verb without object break ground Boxing. to step back or separate from a clinch: The fighters fell into a clinch and broke on the referee's order. 1
- verb without object break ground to take place; occur. 1
- verb without object break ground Journalism. to become known, published, or aired: The story broke in the morning papers. 1
- verb without object break ground Horticulture. to produce flowers or leaves. 1
- idioms break ground break bulk, Nautical. to remove a cargo wholly or in part. 1
- idioms break ground break camp, to pack up tents and equipment and resume a journey or march: They broke camp at dawn and proceeded toward the mountains. 1
- idioms break ground break even, to finish a business transaction, period of gambling, series of games, etc., with no loss or gain: He played poker all night and broke even. 1
- idioms break ground break ground, to begin construction, especially of a building or group of buildings: to break ground for a new housing development. Nautical. to free an anchor from the bottom; break out. 1
- idioms break ground break it down, Australian Slang. stop it; calm down. (used as an exclamation of disbelief) that can't be true! 1
- idioms break ground break someone's heart, to cause someone great disappointment or sorrow, as to disappoint in love: It breaks my heart to hear you are leaving me. 1
- idioms break ground break service, Tennis. to win a game served by one's opponent. 1
- idioms break ground break sheer, Nautical. (of an anchored vessel) to drift into such a position as to risk fouling the anchor or anchor cable. Compare sheer2 (def 6). 1
- idioms break ground break step. step (def 38). 1
- idioms break ground break wind, to expel gas from the stomach and bowels through the anus. 1
- idioms break ground give me a break, Informal. (used to express annoyance, disbelief, etc.): He didn't show up again? Oh, give me a break! 1
- noun break ground an act or instance of breaking; disruption or separation of parts; fracture; rupture: There was a break in the window. 1
- noun break ground an opening made by breaking; gap: The break in the wall had not been repaired. 1
- noun break ground a rush away from a place; an attempt to escape: a break for freedom. 1
- noun break ground a sudden dash or rush, as toward something: When the rain lessened, I made a break for home. 1
- noun break ground a suspension of or sudden rupture in friendly relations. 1