break up

Definitions

1. 1

   To break or separate into pieces.

   • Break up the cheese and put it in the salad.
2. 2

   To break or separate into pieces

   To break or separate into pieces; to disintegrate or come apart.

   • It broke up when it hit the ground.
   • So, subject to the salvaging of serviceable parts, all five were withdrawn for breaking up in 1936-7, and thus ended one of the shortest histories of an important locomotive class on record.
   • It was recorded that 26 wagons were either destroyed or more or less broken up.
3. 3

   To upset greatly

   To upset greatly; to cause great emotional disturbance or unhappiness in.

   • "I remember his wail at the meeting, which began: 'In fifty years experience of scientific intercourse----' It quite broke the old man up."
4. ›+ 10 more definitionsshow fewer

   1. 4

      To end a (usually romantic or sexual) relationship.

      • She broke up with her boyfriend last week.
   2. 5

      To end a (usually romantic or sexual) relationship with each other.

      • Jane and Stephen broke up.
   3. 6

      To dissolve

      To dissolve; to part.

      • The meeting finally broke up after a three-hour discussion.
      • So the meeting broke up, and the torchlight grew dimmer, and died away as it had come in a red flicker on the roof, and the footsteps sounded fainter as they went up the passage, until the vault was left to the dead men and me.
   4. 7

      Of a school, to close for the holidays at the end of term.

      • Once the schools break up for the holidays, children across the country are at a loose end and instances of kids doing stupid things on the railway become far too common.
   5. 8

      Of a conversation, to cease to be understandable because of a bad connection

      Of a conversation, to cease to be understandable because of a bad connection; of a signal, to deteriorate.

      • You're breaking up. Can you repeat that? Well, it got cut off.
      • what did you say? you're breaking up on me
   6. 9

      To stop a fight

      To stop a fight; to separate people who are fighting.

      • The police came in to break up the disturbance.
   7. 10

      To become disorganised.

   8. 11

      To cut or take to pieces for scrap.

      • Ex-Brighton "I4" 4-4-2 tank No. 2034, the last of its class, and "02" 0-4-4 tank No. 214 have been broken up.
      • It may not be known generally that the tenders of the scrapped engines of this class were found to be in too good a condition to be broken up, and are now attached to Class "J15" 0-6-0 goods.
   9. 12

      To be or cause to be overcome with laughter.

   10. 13

       Alternative form of breakup.

The neighborhood

• neighborbreakup