heart

[hahrt] /hɑrt/
noun
1.
Anatomy. a hollow, pumplike organ of blood circulation, composed mainly of rhythmically contractile smooth muscle, located in the chest between the lungs and slightly to the left and consisting of four chambers: a right atrium that receives blood returning from the body via the superior and inferior vena cavae, a right ventricle that pumps the blood through the pulmonary artery to the lungs for oxygenation, a left atrium that receives the oxygenated blood via the pulmonary veins and passes it through the mitral valve, and a left ventricle that pumps the oxygenated blood, via the aorta, throughout the body.
2.
Zoology.
  1. the homologous structure in other vertebrates, consisting of four chambers in mammals and birds and three chambers in reptiles and amphibians.
  2. the analogous contractile structure in invertebrate animals, as the tubular heart of the spider and earthworm.
3.
the center of the total personality, especially with reference to intuition, feeling, or emotion:
In your heart you know I'm an honest man.
4.
the center of emotion, especially as contrasted to the head as the center of the intellect:
His head told him not to fall in love, but his heart had the final say.
5.
capacity for sympathy; feeling; affection:
His heart moved him to help the needy.
6.
spirit, courage, or enthusiasm:
His heart sank when he walked into the room and saw their gloomy faces.
7.
the innermost or central part of anything:
Notre Dame stands in the very heart of Paris.
8.
the vital or essential part; core:
the heart of the matter.
9.
the breast or bosom:
to clasp a person to one's heart.
10.
a person (used especially in expressions of praise or affection):
dear heart.
11.
a conventional shape with rounded sides meeting in a point at the bottom and curving inward to a cusp at the top.
12.
a red figure or pip of this shape on a playing card.
13.
a card of the suit bearing such figures.
14.
hearts.
  1. (used with a singular or plural verb) the suit so marked:
    Hearts is trump. Hearts are trump.
  2. (used with a singular verb) a game in which the players try to avoid taking tricks containing this suit.
15.
Botany. the core of a tree; the solid central part without sap or albumen.
16.
good condition for production, growth, etc., as of land or crops.
17.
Also called core. Ropemaking. a strand running through the center of a rope, the other strands being laid around it.
verb (used with object)
18.
Archaic.
  1. to fix in the heart.
  2. to encourage.
19.
Informal. to like or enjoy very much; love:
I heart Chicago.
Idioms
20.
after one's own heart, in keeping with one's taste or preference:
There's a man after my own heart!
21.
at heart, in reality; fundamentally; basically:
At heart she is a romantic.
22.
break someone's heart, to cause someone great disappointment or sorrow, as to disappoint in love:
The news that their son had been arrested broke their hearts.
23.
by heart, by memory; word-for-word:
They knew the song by heart.
24.
cross one's heart, to maintain the truth of one's statement; affirm one's integrity:
That's exactly what they told me, I cross my heart!
25.
do someone's heart good, to give happiness or pleasure to; delight:
It does my heart good to see you again.
26.
eat one's heart out, to have sorrow or longing dominate one's emotions; grieve inconsolably:
The children are eating their hearts out over their lost dog.
27.
from the bottom of one's heart, with complete sincerity.
Also, from one's heart, from the heart.
28.
have a heart, to be compassionate or merciful:
Please have a heart and give her another chance.
29.
have at heart, to have as an object, aim, or desire:
to have another's best interests at heart.
30.
have one's heart in one's mouth, to be very anxious or fearful:
He wanted to do the courageous thing, but his heart was in his mouth.
31.
have one's heart in the right place, to be fundamentally kind, generous, or well-intentioned:
The old gentleman may have a stern manner, but his heart is in the right place.
32.
heart and soul, enthusiastically; fervently; completely:
They entered heart and soul into the spirit of the holiday.
33.
in one's heart of hearts, in one's private thoughts or feelings; deep within one:
He knew, in his heart of hearts, that the news would be bad.
34.
lose one's heart to, to fall in love with:
He lost his heart to the prima ballerina.
35.
near one's heart, of great interest or concern to one:
It is a cause that is very near his heart.
Also, close to one's heart.
36.
not have the heart, to lack the necessary courage or callousness to do something:
No one had the heart to tell him he was through as an actor.
37.
set one's heart against, to be unalterably opposed to:
She had set her heart against selling the statue.
Also, have one's heart set against.
38.
set one's heart at rest, to dismiss one's anxieties:
She couldn't set her heart at rest until she knew he had returned safely.
39.
set one's heart on, to wish for intensely; determine on:
She has set her heart on going to Europe after graduation.
Also, have one's heart set on.
40.
take heart, to regain one's courage; become heartened:
Her son's death was a great blow, but she eventually took heart, convinced that God had willed it.
41.
take / lay to heart,
  1. to think seriously about; concern oneself with:
    He took to heart his father's advice.
  2. to be deeply affected by; grieve over:
    She was prone to take criticism too much to heart.
42.
to one's heart's content, until one is satisfied; as much or as long as one wishes:
The children played in the snow to their heart's content.
43.
wear one's heart on one's sleeve,
  1. to make one's intimate feelings or personal affairs known to all:
    She was not the kind who would wear her heart on her sleeve.
  2. to be liable to fall in love; fall in love easily:
    How lovely to be young and wear our hearts on our sleeves!
44.
with all one's heart,
  1. with earnestness or zeal.
  2. with willingness; cordially:
    She welcomed the visitors with all her heart.
Origin
before 900; Middle English herte, Old English heorte; cognate with Dutch hart, German Herz, Old Norse hjarta, Gothic hairtō; akin to Latin cor (see cordial, courage), Greek kardía (see cardio-); def 19, from the use of the stylized heart symbol to represent love
Can be confused
hart, heart.

break

[breyk] /breɪk/
verb (used with object), broke or (Archaic) brake; broken or (Archaic) broke; breaking.
1.
to smash, split, or divide into parts violently; reduce to pieces or fragments:
He broke a vase.
2.
to infringe, ignore, or act contrary to (a law, rule, promise, etc.):
She broke her promise.
3.
to dissolve or annul (often followed by off):
to break off friendly relations with another country.
4.
to fracture a bone of (some part of the body):
He broke his leg.
5.
to lacerate; wound:
to break the skin.
6.
to destroy or interrupt the regularity, uniformity, continuity, or arrangement of; interrupt:
The bleating of a foghorn broke the silence. The troops broke formation.
7.
to put an end to; overcome; stop:
His touchdown run broke the tie. She found it hard to break the cigarette habit.
8.
to discover the system, key, method, etc., for decoding or deciphering (a cryptogram), especially by the methods of cryptanalysis.
9.
to remove a part from (a set or collection):
She had to break the set to sell me the two red ones I wanted.
10.
to exchange for or divide into smaller units or components:
She broke a dollar bill into change. The prism broke the light into all the colors of the rainbow.
11.
to make a way through; penetrate:
The stone broke the surface of the water.
12.
Law.
  1. to open or force one's way into (a dwelling, store, etc.).
  2. to contest (a will) successfully by judicial action.
13.
to make one's way out of, especially by force:
to break jail.
14.
to better (a given score or record):
He never broke 200 in bowling or 80 in golf.
15.
to disclose or divulge personally in speech or writing:
He broke the good news to her at dinner.
16.
to solve:
The police needed only a week to break that case.
17.
to rupture (a blood vessel):
She almost broke a blood vessel from laughing so hard.
18.
to disable or destroy by or as if by shattering or crushing:
to break a watch.
19.
to cause (a blister, boil, or the like) to burst, as by puncturing:
She broke the blister with a needle.
20.
to ruin financially; make bankrupt:
They threatened to break him if he didn't stop discounting their products.
21.
to overcome or wear down the spirit, strength, or resistance of; to cause to yield, especially under pressure, torture, or the like:
They broke him by the threat of blackmail.
22.
to dismiss or reduce in rank.
23.
to impair or weaken the power, effect, or intensity of:
His arm broke the blow.
24.
to train to obedience; tame:
to break a horse.
25.
to train away from a habit or practice (usually followed by of).
26.
Electricity. to render (a circuit) incomplete; stop the flow of (a current).
27.
Journalism.
  1. to release (a story) for publication or airing on radio or television:
    They will break the story tomorrow.
  2. to continue (a story or article) on another page, especially when the page is not the following one.
28.
Pool. to cause (racked billiard balls) to scatter by striking with the cue ball.
29.
Sports.
  1. (of a pitcher, bowler, etc.) to hurl (a ball) in such a way as to cause it to change direction after leaving the hand:
    He broke a curve over the plate for a strike.
  2. (in tennis and other racket games) to score frequently or win against (an opponent's serve).
30.
Nautical. to unfurl (a flag) suddenly by an easily released knot.
31.
to prove the falsity or show the lack of logic of:
The FBI broke his alibi by proving he knew how to shoot a pistol.
32.
to begin or initiate (a plan or campaign), especially with much publicity:
They were going to break the sales campaign with a parade in April.
33.
to open the breech or action of (a shotgun, rifle, or revolver), as by snapping open the hinge between the barrel and the butt.
verb (used without object), broke or (Archaic) brake; broken or (Archaic) broke; breaking.
34.
to shatter, burst, or become broken; separate into parts or fragments, especially suddenly and violently:
The glass broke on the floor.
35.
to become suddenly discontinuous or interrupted; stop abruptly:
She pulled too hard and the string broke.
36.
to become detached, separated, or disassociated (usually followed by away, off, or from):
The knob broke off in his hand.
37.
to become inoperative or to malfunction, as through wear or damage:
The television set broke this afternoon.
38.
to begin suddenly or violently or change abruptly into something else:
War broke over Europe.
39.
to begin uttering a sound or series of sounds or to be uttered suddenly:
She broke into song. When they entered, a cheer broke from the audience.
40.
to express or start to express an emotion or mood:
His face broke into a smile.
41.
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.
42.
to run or dash toward something suddenly (usually followed by for):
The pass receiver broke for the goal line.
43.
to force a way (usually followed by in, into, or through):
The hunters broke through the underbrush.
44.
to burst or rupture:
A blood vessel broke in his nose. The blister broke when he pricked it.
45.
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.
46.
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.
47.
to dawn:
The day broke hot and sultry.
48.
to begin violently and suddenly:
The storm broke.
49.
(of a storm, foul weather, etc.) to cease:
The weather broke after a week, and we were able to sail for home.
50.
to part the surface of water, as a jumping fish or surfacing submarine.
51.
to give way or fail, as health, strength, or spirit; collapse:
After years of hardship and worry, his health broke.
52.
to yield or submit to pressure, torture, or the like:
He broke under questioning.
53.
(of the heart) to be overwhelmed with sorrow:
Her heart broke when he told her that he no longer loved her.
54.
(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.
55.
(of the voice) to cease, waver, or change tone abruptly, especially from emotional strain:
His voice broke when he mentioned her name.
56.
(of value or prices) to drop sharply and considerably.
57.
to disperse or collapse by colliding with something:
The waves broke on the shore.
58.
to break dance.
59.
(of a horse in a harness race) to fail to keep to a trot or pace, as by starting to gallop.
60.
Botany. to mutate; sport.
61.
Linguistics. to undergo breaking.
62.
Billiards, Pool. to make a break; take the first turn in a game.
63.
Sports. (of a pitched or bowled ball) to change direction:
The ball broke over the plate.
64.
Horse Racing, Track. to leave the starting point:
The horses broke fast from the gate.
65.
Boxing. to step back or separate from a clinch:
The fighters fell into a clinch and broke on the referee's order.
66.
to take place; occur.
67.
Journalism. to become known, published, or aired:
The story broke in the morning papers.
68.
Horticulture. to produce flowers or leaves.
noun
69.
an act or instance of breaking; disruption or separation of parts; fracture; rupture:
There was a break in the window.
70.
an opening made by breaking; gap:
The break in the wall had not been repaired.
71.
a rush away from a place; an attempt to escape:
a break for freedom.
72.
a sudden dash or rush, as toward something:
When the rain lessened, I made a break for home.
73.
a suspension of or sudden rupture in friendly relations.
74.
an interruption of continuity; departure from or rupture with:
Abstract painters made a break with the traditions of the past.
75.
an abrupt or marked change, as in sound or direction, or a brief pause:
They noticed a curious break in his voice.
76.
Informal.
  1. an opportunity or stroke of fortune, especially a lucky one.
  2. a chance to improve one's lot, especially one unlooked for or undeserved.
77.
the breaks, Informal. the way things happen; fate:
Sorry to hear about your bad luck, but I guess those are the breaks.
78.
a brief rest, as from work:
The actors took a ten-minute break from rehearsal.
79.
Radio, Television. a brief, scheduled interruption of a program or broadcasting period for the announcement of advertising or station identification.
80.
Prosody. a pause or caesura.
81.
Jazz. a solo passage, usually of from 2 to 12 bars, during which the rest of the instruments are silent.
82.
Music. the point in the scale where the quality of voice of one register changes to that of another, as from chest to head.
83.
break dancing.
84.
a sharp and considerable drop in the prices of stock issues.
85.
Electricity. an opening or discontinuity in a circuit.
86.
Printing.
  1. one or more blank lines between two paragraphs.
  2. breaks, suspension points.
87.
the place, after a letter, where a word is or may be divided at the end of a line.
88.
a collapse of health, strength, or spirit; breakdown.
89.
Informal. an indiscreet or awkward remark or action; social blunder; faux pas.
90.
Billiards, Pool. a series of successful strokes; run.
91.
Pool. the opening play, in which the cue ball is shot to scatter the balls.
92.
Sports. a change in direction of a pitched or bowled ball.
93.
Horse Racing, Track. the start of a race.
94.
(in harness racing) an act or instance of a horse's changing from a trot or pace into a gallop or other step.
95.
Bowling. a failure to knock down all ten pins in a single frame.
96.
Boxing. an act or instance of stepping back or separating from a clinch:
a clean break.
97.
any of several stages in the grinding of grain in which the bran is separated from the kernel.
98.
Botany. a sport.
99.
Journalism. the point at the bottom of a column where a printed story is carried over to another column or page.
100.
Nautical. the place at which a superstructure, deckhouse, or the like, rises from the main deck of a vessel.
101.
breaks, Physical Geography. an area dissected by small ravines and gullies.
102.
Mining. a fault or offset, as in a vein or bed of ore.
Verb phrases
103.
break away,
  1. to leave or escape, especially suddenly or hurriedly.
  2. to sever connections or allegiance, as to tradition or a political group.
  3. to start prematurely:
    The horse broke away from the starting gate.
104.
break back, Tennis. to win a game served by an opponent immediately after the opponent has done so against one's own serve.
105.
break down,
  1. to become ineffective.
  2. to lose control; weaken:
    He broke down and wept at the sad news.
  3. to have a physical or mental collapse.
  4. to cease to function:
    The car broke down.
  5. to itemize:
    to break down a hotel bill into daily charges.
  6. Chemistry. to separate (a compound) into its constituent molecules.
  7. Electricity. (of an insulator) to fail, as when subjected to excessively high voltage, permitting a current to pass.
  8. to decompose.
  9. to analyze.
  10. to classify.
  11. to separate into constituent parts:
    to break down a beef carcass into basic cuts.
106.
break in,
  1. to enter by force or craft:
    Someone broke in and made off with all the furniture.
  2. to train or instruct; initiate:
    The boss is breaking in a new assistant.
  3. to begin to wear or use in order to make comfortable:
    These shoes haven't been broken in.
  4. to interrupt:
    He broke in with a ridiculous objection.
  5. to run (new machinery) initially under reduced load and speed, until any stiffness of motion has departed and all parts are ready to operate under normal service conditions; run in; wear in.
107.
break in on/upon, to enter with force upon or accidentally interrupt; intrude upon:
The visitor opened the wrong door and broke in on a private conference.
108.
break into,
  1. to interpose; interrupt:
    He broke into the conversation at a crucial moment.
  2. to begin some activity.
  3. to be admitted into; enter, as a business or profession:
    It is difficult to break into the theater.
  4. to enter by force:
    They broke into the store and stole the safe.
109.
break off,
  1. to sever by breaking.
  2. to stop suddenly; discontinue:
    to break off a conversation; to break off relations with one's neighbors.
110.
break out,
  1. to begin abruptly; arise:
    An epidemic broke out.
  2. Pathology. (of certain diseases) to appear in eruptions.
  3. (of a person) to manifest a skin eruption.
  4. to prepare for use:
    to break out the parachutes.
  5. to take out of (storage, concealment, etc.) for consumption:
    to break out one's best wine.
  6. Nautical. to dislodge (the anchor) from the bottom.
  7. to escape; flee:
    He spent three years in prison before he broke out.
  8. to separate into categories or list specific items:
    to break out gift ideas according to price range; The report breaks out quarterly profits and losses.
111.
break up,
  1. to separate; scatter.
  2. to put an end to; discontinue.
  3. to divide or become divided into pieces.
  4. to dissolve.
  5. to disrupt; upset:
    Television commercials during a dramatic presentation break up the continuity of effect.
  6. (of a personal relationship) to end:
    to break up a friendship; Their marriage broke up last year.
  7. to end a personal relationship:
    Bob and Mary broke up last month.
  8. to be or cause to be overcome with laughter:
    The comedian told several jokes that broke up the audience.
112.
break with,
  1. to sever relations with; separate from:
    to break with one's family.
  2. to depart from; repudiate:
    to break with tradition.
Idioms
113.
break bulk, Nautical. to remove a cargo wholly or in part.
114.
break camp, to pack up tents and equipment and resume a journey or march:
They broke camp at dawn and proceeded toward the mountains.
115.
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.
116.
break ground,
  1. to begin construction, especially of a building or group of buildings:
    to break ground for a new housing development.
  2. Nautical. to free an anchor from the bottom; break out.
117.
break it down, Australian Slang.
  1. stop it; calm down.
  2. (used as an exclamation of disbelief) that can't be true!
118.
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.
119.
break service, Tennis. to win a game served by one's opponent.
120.
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).
121.
break step. step (def 38).
122.
break wind, to expel gas from the stomach and bowels through the anus.
123.
give me a break, Informal. (used to express annoyance, disbelief, etc.):
He didn't show up again? Oh, give me a break!
Origin
before 900; Middle English breken, Old English brecan; cognate with Dutch breken, German brechen, Gothic brikan; akin to Latin frangere; see fragile
Related forms
breakable, adjective
breakableness, noun
breakably, adverb
breakless, adjective
nonbreakable, adjective
rebreak, verb, rebroke, rebroken, rebreaking.
unbreakable, adjective
unbreakableness, noun
unbreakably, adverb
Can be confused
brake, break.
break, bust, burst (see synonym study at the current entry; see usage note at bust)
Synonyms
1. fracture, splinter, shiver. Break, crush, shatter, smash mean to reduce to parts, violently or by force. Break means to divide by means of a blow, a collision, a pull, or the like: to break a chair, a leg, a strap. To crush is to subject to (usually heavy or violent) pressure so as to press out of shape or reduce to shapelessness or to small particles: to crush a beetle. To shatter is to break in such a way as to cause the pieces to fly in many directions: to shatter a light globe. To smash is to break noisily and suddenly into many pieces: to smash a glass. 2. disobey, contravene. 6. disrupt. 14. surpass, beat. 22. demote. 34. fragment, smash. 69. rent, tear, rip, rift, split; breach, fissure, crack. 74. stop, hiatus, lacuna, pause, caesura.
Antonyms
1. repair.
British Dictionary definitions for break someone's heart

break

/breɪk/
verb breaks, breaking, broke, broken
1.
to separate or become separated into two or more pieces: this cup is broken
2.
to damage or become damaged so as to be inoperative: my radio is broken
3.
to crack or become cracked without separating
4.
to burst or cut the surface of (skin, etc)
5.
to discontinue or become discontinued: they broke for lunch, to break a journey
6.
to disperse or become dispersed: the clouds broke
7.
(transitive) to fail to observe (an agreement, promise, law, etc): to break one's word
8.
(foll by with) to discontinue an association (with)
9.
to disclose or be disclosed: he broke the news gently
10.
(transitive) to fracture (a bone) in (a limb, etc)
11.
(transitive) to divide (something complete or perfect): to break a set of books
12.
to bring or come to an end: the summer weather broke at last
13.
(transitive) to bring to an end by or as if by force: to break a strike
14.
when intr, often foll by out. to escape (from): he broke jail, he broke out of jail
15.
to weaken or overwhelm or be weakened or overwhelmed, as in spirit
16.
(transitive) to cut through or penetrate: a cry broke the silence
17.
(transitive) to improve on or surpass: to break a record
18.
(transitive) often foll by in. to accustom (a horse) to the bridle and saddle, to being ridden, etc
19.
(transitive) often foll by of. to cause (a person) to give up (a habit): this cure will break you of smoking
20.
(transitive) to weaken the impact or force of: this net will break his fall
21.
(transitive) to decipher: to break a code
22.
(transitive) to lose the order of: to break ranks
23.
(transitive) to reduce to poverty or the state of bankruptcy
24.
when intr, foll by into. to obtain, give, or receive smaller units in exchange for; change: to break a pound note
25.
(transitive) (mainly military) to demote to a lower rank
26.
(intransitive; often foll by from or out of) to proceed suddenly
27.
(intransitive) to come into being: light broke over the mountains
28.
(intransitive; foll by into or out into)
  1. to burst into song, laughter, etc
  2. to change to a faster pace
29.
(transitive) to open with explosives: to break a safe
30.
(intransitive) (of waves)
  1. (often foll by against) to strike violently
  2. to collapse into foam or surf
31.
(intransitive) (esp of fish) to appear above the surface of the water
32.
(intransitive) (of the amniotic fluid surrounding an unborn baby) to be released when the amniotic sac ruptures in the first stage of labour: her waters have broken
33.
(intransitive) (informal, mainly US) to turn out in a specified manner: things are breaking well
34.
(intransitive) (of prices, esp stock exchange quotations) to fall sharply
35.
(intransitive) to make a sudden effort, as in running, horse racing, etc
36.
(intransitive) (cricket) (of a ball) to change direction on bouncing
37.
(transitive) (cricket) (of a player) to knock down at least one bail from (a wicket)
38.
(intransitive) (billiards, snooker) to scatter the balls at the start of a game
39.
(intransitive) (horse racing) to commence running in a race: they broke even
40.
(intransitive) (boxing, wrestling) (of two fighters) to separate from a clinch
41.
(intransitive) (music)
  1. (of the male voice) to undergo a change in register, quality, and range at puberty
  2. (of the voice or some instruments) to undergo a change in tone, quality, etc, when changing registers
42.
(intransitive) (phonetics) (of a vowel) to turn into a diphthong, esp as a development in the language
43.
(transitive) to open the breech of (certain firearms) by snapping the barrel away from the butt on its hinge
44.
(transitive) to interrupt the flow of current in (an electrical circuit) Compare make1 (sense 27)
45.
(intransitive) (informal, mainly US) to become successful; make a breakthrough
46.
break bread
  1. to eat a meal, esp with others
  2. (Christianity) to administer or participate in Holy Communion
47.
break camp, to pack up equipment and leave a camp
48.
break ground, break new ground, to do something that has not been done before
49.
to overwork or work very hard
50.
break the back of, to complete the greatest or hardest part of (a task)
51.
break the bank, to ruin financially or deplete the resources of a bank (as in gambling)
52.
break the ice
  1. to relieve shyness or reserve, esp between strangers
  2. to be the first of a group to do something
53.
break the mould, to make a change that breaks an established habit, pattern, etc
54.
(tennis) break service, to win a game in which an opponent is serving
55.
break wind, to emit wind from the anus
noun
56.
the act or result of breaking; fracture
57.
a crack formed as the result of breaking
58.
a brief respite or interval between two actions: a break from one's toil
59.
a sudden rush, esp to escape: to make a break for freedom
60.
a breach in a relationship: she has made a break from her family
61.
any sudden interruption in a continuous action
62.
(Brit) a short period between classes at school US and Canadian equivalent recess
63.
(informal) a fortunate opportunity, esp to prove oneself
64.
(informal) a piece of (good or bad) luck
65.
(esp in a stock exchange) a sudden and substantial decline in prices
66.
(prosody) a pause in a line of verse; caesura
67.
(billiards, snooker)
  1. a series of successful shots during one turn
  2. the points scored in such a series
68.
(billiards, snooker)
  1. the opening shot with the cue ball that scatters the placed balls
  2. the right to take this first shot
69.
(tennis) Also called service break, break of serve. the act or instance of breaking an opponent's service
70.
one of the intervals in a sporting contest
71.
(horse racing) the start of a race: an even break
72.
(in tenpin bowling) failure to knock down all the pins after the second attempt
73.
  1. (jazz) a short usually improvised solo passage
  2. an instrumental passage in a pop song
74.
a discontinuity in an electrical circuit
75.
access to a radio channel by a citizens' band operator
76.
a variant spelling of brake1 (sense 6)
interjection
77.
(boxing, wrestling) a command by a referee for two opponents to separate
See also breakaway, break down, break even, break in, break into, break off, break out, break through, break up, break with
Word Origin
Old English brecan; related to Old Frisian breka, Gothic brikan, Old High German brehhan, Latin frangere Sanskrit bhráj bursting forth

heart

/hɑːt/
noun
1.
the hollow muscular organ in vertebrates whose contractions propel the blood through the circulatory system. In mammals it consists of a right and left atrium and a right and left ventricle related adjective cardiac
2.
the corresponding organ or part in invertebrates
3.
this organ considered as the seat of life and emotions, esp love
4.
emotional mood or disposition: a happy heart, a change of heart
5.
tenderness or pity: you have no heart
6.
courage or spirit; bravery
7.
the inmost or most central part of a thing: the heart of the city
8.
the most important or vital part: the heart of the matter
9.
(of vegetables such as cabbage) the inner compact part
10.
the core of a tree
11.
the part nearest the heart of a person; breast: she held him to her heart
12.
a dearly loved person: usually used as a term of address: dearest heart
13.
a conventionalized representation of the heart, having two rounded lobes at the top meeting in a point at the bottom
14.
  1. a red heart-shaped symbol on a playing card
  2. a card with one or more of these symbols or (when pl.) the suit of cards so marked
15.
a fertile condition in land, conducive to vigorous growth in crops or herbage (esp in the phrase in good heart)
16.
after one's own heart, appealing to one's own disposition, taste, or tendencies
17.
at heart, in reality or fundamentally
18.
break one's heart, break someone's heart, to grieve or cause to grieve very deeply, esp through love
19.
by heart, by committing to memory
20.
cross my heart!, cross my heart and hope to die!, I promise!
21.
eat one's heart out, to brood or pine with grief or longing
22.
from one's heart, from the bottom of one's heart, very sincerely or deeply
23.
have a heart!, be kind or merciful
24.
(usually used with a negative) have one's heart in it, to have enthusiasm for something
25.
have one's heart in one's boots, to be depressed or down-hearted
26.
have one's heart in one's mouth, have one's heart in one's throat, to be full of apprehension, excitement, or fear
27.
have one's heart in the right place
  1. to be kind, thoughtful, or generous
  2. to mean well
28.
(usually used with a negative) have the heart, to have the necessary will, callousness, etc (to do something): I didn't have the heart to tell him
29.
heart and soul, absolutely; completely
30.
heart of hearts, the depths of one's conscience or emotions
31.
heart of oak, a brave person
32.
in one's heart, secretly; fundamentally
33.
lose heart, to become despondent or disillusioned (over something)
34.
lose one's heart to, to fall in love with
35.
near to one's heart, close to one's heart, cherished or important
36.
set one's heart on, to have as one's ambition to obtain; covet
37.
take heart, to become encouraged
38.
take to heart, to take seriously or be upset about
39.
to one's heart's content, as much as one wishes
40.
wear one's heart on one's sleeve, to show one's feelings openly
41.
with all one's heart, with one's whole heart, very willingly
verb
42.
(intransitive) (of vegetables) to form a heart
43.
an archaic word for hearten
See also hearts
Word Origin
Old English heorte; related to Old Norse hjarta, Gothic hairtō, Old High German herza, Latin cor, Greek kardia, Old Irish cride
Word Origin and History for break someone's heart

break

v.

Old English brecan "to break, shatter, burst; injure, violate, destroy, curtail; break into, rush into; burst forth, spring out; subdue, tame" (class IV strong verb; past tense bræc, past participle brocen), from Proto-Germanic *brekan (cf. Old Frisian breka, Dutch breken, Old High German brehhan, German brechen, Gothic brikan), from PIE root *bhreg- "to break" (see fraction). Most modern senses were in Old English. In reference to the heart from early 13c. Meaning "to disclose" is from early 13c.

Break bread "share food" (with) is from late 14c. Break the ice is c.1600, in reference to the "coldness" of encounters of strangers. Break wind first attested 1550s. To break (something) out (1890s) probably is an image from dock work, of freeing cargo before unloading it. Ironic theatrical good luck formula break a leg has parallels in German Hals- und Beinbruch "break your neck and leg," and Italian in bocca al lupo. Evidence of a highly superstitious craft (cf. Macbeth).

n.

c.1300, "act of breaking," from break (v.). Sense of "short interval between spells of work" (originally between lessons at school) is from 1861. Meaning "stroke of luck" is attested by 1911, probably an image from billiards (where the break that starts the game is attested from 1865). Meaning "stroke of mercy" is from 1914. Musical sense, "improvised passage, solo" is attested from 1920s in jazz.

heart

n.

Old English heorte "heart; breast, soul, spirit, will, desire; courage; mind, intellect," from Proto-Germanic *khertan- (cf. Old Saxon herta, Old Frisian herte, Old Norse hjarta, Dutch hart, Old High German herza, German Herz, Gothic hairto), from PIE *kerd- "heart" (cf. Greek kardia, Latin cor, Old Irish cride, Welsh craidd, Hittite kir, Lithuanian širdis, Russian serdce "heart," Breton kreiz "middle," Old Church Slavonic sreda "middle").

Spelling with -ea- is c.1500, reflecting what then was a long vowel, and remained when pronunciation shifted. Most of the figurative senses were present in Old English, including "intellect, memory," now only in by heart. Heart attack attested from 1875; heart disease is from 1864. The card game hearts is so called from 1886.

break someone's heart in Medicine

heart (härt)
n.

  1. The chambered, muscular organ in vertebrates that pumps blood received from the veins into the arteries, thereby maintaining the flow of blood through the entire circulatory system.

  2. A similarly functioning structure in invertebrates.

break someone's heart in Science
heart
  (härt)   

  1. The hollow, muscular organ that pumps blood through the body of a vertebrate animal by contracting and relaxing. In humans and other mammals, it has four chambers, consisting of two atria and two ventricles. The right side of the heart collects blood with low oxygen levels from the veins and pumps it to the lungs. The left side receives blood with high oxygen levels from the lungs and pumps it into the aorta, which carries it to the arteries of the body. The heart in other vertebrates functions similarly but often has fewer chambers.

  2. A similar but simpler organ in invertebrate animals.


break someone's heart in Culture

heart definition


The hollow muscular organ that is the center of the circulatory system. The heart pumps blood throughout the intricate system of blood vessels in the body.

Slang definitions & phrases for break someone's heart

break

noun
  1. An escape or attempt to escape (1830s+)
  2. A brief period of rest or relaxation: Take a five-minute break (1860s+)
  3. A stroke of luck, good or bad • Probably fr the break in billiards, when balls arrange themselves in either a good or bad way: I got a break and made it on time/ Football's a game of breaks to some extent (1911+)
  4. A stroke of mercy or favor: Give me one break and I'll never flunk again
  5. An improvised passage; solo; lick (1930s+ Jazz musicians)
verb
  1. : Let's break while I think about it all
  2. To interrupt or abandon some regular practice: to break training/ break an old routine (1400+)
  3. To happen; occur; fall out: If things break right I'll be OK (1914+)
  4. To tame a wild horse; subdue someone's spirit (late 1400s+)
  5. To bankrupt a company or person (1612+)
  6. To demote; reduce in rank; bust: They broke him back to buck private (late 1600s+)
  7. To separate, esp from a clinch: The boxers broke and came at each other again (1890s+)
  8. (also breakdance or boogie)To do a kind of dancing that evolved in the inner-city ghettos and is characterized esp by intricate writhings and shows of balance and strength close to the floor • Break down was used by 1819 to describe very energetic black dancing: You can go running. You can swim. Or you can break (1980s+ Black teenagers)
  9. (also service break) To win a game from an opponent who is serving (1950s+ Tennis)
Related Terms

coffee break, even break, take a break


heart

noun

A tablet of an amphetamine, esp Dexedrine2 (1960s+ Narcotics)

Related Terms

bleeding heart, cross my heart, have a heart, purple heart


break someone's heart in the Bible

According to the Bible, the heart is the centre not only of spiritual activity, but of all the operations of human life. "Heart" and "soul" are often used interchangeably (Deut. 6:5; 26:16; comp. Matt. 22:37; Mark 12:30, 33), but this is not generally the case. The heart is the "home of the personal life," and hence a man is designated, according to his heart, wise (1 Kings 3:12, etc.), pure (Ps. 24:4; Matt. 5:8, etc.), upright and righteous (Gen. 20:5, 6; Ps. 11:2; 78:72), pious and good (Luke 8:15), etc. In these and such passages the word "soul" could not be substituted for "heart." The heart is also the seat of the conscience (Rom. 2:15). It is naturally wicked (Gen. 8:21), and hence it contaminates the whole life and character (Matt. 12:34; 15:18; comp. Eccl. 8:11; Ps. 73:7). Hence the heart must be changed, regenerated (Ezek. 36:26; 11:19; Ps. 51:10-14), before a man can willingly obey God. The process of salvation begins in the heart by the believing reception of the testimony of God, while the rejection of that testimony hardens the heart (Ps. 95:8; Prov. 28:14; 2 Chr. 36:13). "Hardness of heart evidences itself by light views of sin; partial acknowledgment and confession of it; pride and conceit; ingratitude; unconcern about the word and ordinances of God; inattention to divine providences; stifling convictions of conscience; shunning reproof; presumption, and general ignorance of divine things."

Idioms and Phrases with break someone's heart

break someone's heart

Cause severe emotional pain or grief. For example, If the verdict is guilty, it will break her mother's heart. This hyperbole has appeared in works by Chaucer, Shakespeare, and George Bernard Shaw, among others. In noun form it appears as both a broken heart and heartbreak (Shaw wrote a play entitled Heartbreak House, 1913). Today it also is used ironically, as in You only scored an A-minus on the final? That breaks my heart! [ Late 1300s ]

break

also see:
also see under:
broke

heart

also see:
Encyclopedia Article for break someone's heart

break

either of two types of vehicle. One is a heavy four-wheeled carriage frame used for the training and exercising of horses, either singly or in teams of two or four. It has no body parts except for a high seat upon which the driver sits and a small platform for a helper immediately behind.

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