break up

break up

1. Lit. [for something] to fall apart; to be broken to pieces. (Typically said of a ship breaking up on rocks.) •

In the greatest storm of the century, the ship broke up on the reef.

•

It broke up and sank.

2. Go to break up (with someone). 3. [for married persons] to divorce. •

After many years of bickering, they finally broke up.

4. [for a marriage] to dissolve in divorce. •

Their marriage finally broke up.

5. to begin laughing very hard. •

The comedian told a particularly good joke, and the audience broke up.

•

I always break up when I hear her sing. She is so bad!

* * *

{v.} 1. To break into pieces. * /The workmen broke up the pavement to dig up the pipes under it./ * /River ice breaks up in the spring./ 2. {informal} To lose or destroy spirit or self-control. - Usually used in the passive. * /Mrs. Lawrence was all broken up after her daughter's death, and did not go out of the house for two months./ Compare: CRACK UP, GO TO PIECES. 3. To come or to put to an end, especially by separation; separate. * /Some men kept interrupting the speakers, and finally broke up the meeting./ * /The party broke up at midnight./ - Often used in the informal phrase "break it up". * /The boys were fighting, and a passing policeman ordered them to break it up./ Compare: CUT OUT(1). 4. {informal} To stop being friends. * /Mary and June were good friends and did everything together, but then they had a quarrel and broke up/ Compare: BREAK OFF.