Library / English Dictionary

BREAK INTO

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (verb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Change pace

Example:

The horse broke into a gallop

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Hypernyms (to "break into" is one way to...):

change (undergo a change; become different in essence; losing one's or its original nature)

Sentence frames:

Something is ----ing PP
Somebody ----s PP

Sense 2

Meaning:

Express or utter spontaneously

Example:

break into tears

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Hypernyms (to "break into" is one way to...):

emit; let loose; let out; utter (express audibly; utter sounds (not necessarily words))

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something

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