break off

== English == === Etymology === From Middle English breke of (“break off, terminate”), a dissimilated form of earlier Middle English ofbreken. By surface analysis, break +‎ off. === Pronunciation === === Verb === break off (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. (intransitive) To become detached by breaking or snapping. (transitive) To discontinue abruptly. (intransitive) To end abruptly, either temporarily or permanently. (ambitransitive, billiards, snooker) To play the first shot in a frame of snooker, billiards or pool. (transitive, slang, African-American Vernacular) To give (someone) (something); to allow (someone) to take (something); to grant (someone) a share or portion of (something). ==== Translations ==== === Anagrams === off break