The AI-powered English dictionary
third-person singular simple present breaks off, present participle breaking off, simple past broke off, past participle broken off
(transitive) To remove a piece from a whole by breaking or snapping. quotations examples
The bees came and found no one but the Woodman to sting, so they flew at him and broke off all their stings against the tin, without hurting the Woodman at all.
1900 May 17, L[yman] Frank Baum, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, Chicago, Ill., New York, N.Y.: Geo[rge] M. Hill Co.
(intransitive) To become detached by breaking or snapping. examples
(transitive) To discontinue abruptly. quotations examples
In fact I never said it; she eventually realised I was someone else, and broke off the conversation abruptly.
2023 February 25, Tim Dowling, “Tim Dowling: I’m revisiting my worst ever moment on stage – a Christmas panto”, in The Guardian, archived from the original on 2023-06-16
(intransitive) To end abruptly, either temporarily or permanently. quotations examples
Then the conversation broke off, and there was little more talking, only a noise of men going backwards and forwards, and of putting down of kegs and the hollow gurgle of good liquor being poured from breakers into the casks.
1898, J. Meade Falkner, chapter 4, in Moonfleet, London, Toronto, Ont.: Jonathan Cape, published 1934
(transitive, intransitive, billiards, snooker) To play the first shot in a frame of snooker, billiards or pool. quotations examples
Ted's opening line, when Steve broke off for the deciding frame, was, 'Last night we put our clocks back one hour. These two stars turned theirs back to April.'
2017, John Virgo, Say Goodnight, JV - My Autobiography, John Blake Publishing