Advertisement
Advertisement
broken
[ broh-kuhn ]
adjective
- reduced to fragments; fragmented.
- ruptured; torn; fractured.
- not functioning properly; out of working order.
- Meteorology. (of sky cover) being more than half, but not totally, covered by clouds. Compare scattered ( def 4 ).
- changing direction abruptly:
The fox ran in a broken line.
- fragmentary or incomplete:
a broken ton of coal weighing 1,500 pounds.
- infringed or violated:
A broken promise is a betrayal of trust.
- interrupted, disrupted, or disconnected:
After the phone call he returned to his broken sleep.
- weakened in strength, spirit, etc.:
His broken health was due to alcoholism.
- tamed, trained, or reduced to submission:
The horse was broken to the saddle.
- imperfectly spoken, as language:
She still speaks broken English.
- spoken in a halting or fragmentary manner, as under emotional strain:
He uttered a few broken words of sorrow.
- (of a relationship) split apart; not intact:
a broken marriage.
- (of a family) disunited or divided by the prolonged or permanent absence of a parent, usually due to divorce or desertion: broken families.
a child from a broken home;
broken families.
- not smooth; rough or irregular:
We left the plains and rode through broken country.
- ruined; bankrupt:
the broken fortunes of his family.
- Papermaking, Printing. a quantity of paper of less than 500 or 1000 sheets.
broken
/ ˈəʊə /
verb
- the past participle of break
adjective
- fractured, smashed, or splintered
a broken vase
- imperfect or incomplete; fragmentary
a broken set of books
- interrupted; disturbed; disconnected
broken sleep
- intermittent or discontinuous
broken sunshine
- varying in direction or intensity, as of pitch
a broken run
a broken note
- not functioning
a broken radio
- spoilt or ruined by divorce (esp in the phrases broken home , broken marriage )
- (of a trust, promise, contract, etc) violated; infringed
- overcome with grief or disappointment
a broken heart
- (of the speech of a foreigner) imperfect in grammar, vocabulary, and pronunciation
broken English
- Alsobroken-in made tame or disciplined by training
a broken recruit
a broken horse
- exhausted or weakened as through ill-health or misfortune
- confused or disorganized
broken ranks of soldiers
- breached or opened
broken defensive lines
- irregular or rough; uneven
broken ground
- bankrupt or out of money
a broken industry
- (of colour) having a multicoloured decorative effect, as by stippling paint onto a surface
- informal.drunk
Derived Forms
- ˈǰԱ, adverb
Other 51Թ Forms
- k· adverb
- k·Ա noun
- -k adjective
- ɱ-k adjective
51Թ History and Origins
Origin of broken1
Example Sentences
A broken plastic chair testifies to the fight they have had.
How can a broken heart ever be painless?
A belief system that may have the highest proportion of logical inconsistencies, irrational dogma, failed prophecies and broken promises of all major worldviews is one now on the upswing in the Western world.
See below for more theories, broken up by character as well as a few general predictions.
A day earlier, his home in Woodway, Wash., was broken into, the latest in a disturbing string of burglaries targeting the homes of prominent professional athletes.
Advertisement
Related 51Թs
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Browse