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broken
[broh-kuhn]
adjective
reduced to fragments; fragmented.
ruptured; torn; fractured.
not functioning properly; out of working order.
Meteorology.(of sky cover) being more than half, but not totally, covered by clouds.
changing direction abruptly.
The fox ran in a broken line.
fragmentary or incomplete.
a broken ton of coal weighing 1,500 pounds.
infringed or violated.
A broken promise is a betrayal of trust.
interrupted, disrupted, or disconnected.
After the phone call he returned to his broken sleep.
weakened in strength, spirit, etc..
His broken health was due to alcoholism.
tamed, trained, or reduced to submission.
The horse was broken to the saddle.
imperfectly spoken, as language.
She still speaks broken English.
spoken in a halting or fragmentary manner, as under emotional strain.
He uttered a few broken words of sorrow.
(of a relationship) split apart; not intact.
a broken marriage.
(of a family) disunited or divided by the prolonged or permanent absence of a parent, usually due to divorce or desertion: broken families.
a child from a broken home;
broken families.
not smooth; rough or irregular.
We left the plains and rode through broken country.
ruined; bankrupt.
the broken fortunes of his family.
Papermaking, Printing.a quantity of paper of less than 500 or 1000 sheets.
broken
/ ˈəʊə /
verb
the past participle of break
adjective
fractured, smashed, or splintered
a broken vase
imperfect or incomplete; fragmentary
a broken set of books
interrupted; disturbed; disconnected
broken sleep
intermittent or discontinuous
broken sunshine
varying in direction or intensity, as of pitch
a broken note
a broken run
not functioning
a broken radio
spoilt or ruined by divorce (esp in the phrases broken home , broken marriage )
(of a trust, promise, contract, etc) violated; infringed
overcome with grief or disappointment
a broken heart
(of the speech of a foreigner) imperfect in grammar, vocabulary, and pronunciation
broken English
Also: broken-in.made tame or disciplined by training
a broken horse
a broken recruit
exhausted or weakened as through ill-health or misfortune
confused or disorganized
broken ranks of soldiers
breached or opened
broken defensive lines
irregular or rough; uneven
broken ground
bankrupt or out of money
a broken industry
(of colour) having a multicoloured decorative effect, as by stippling paint onto a surface
informaldrunk
Other Word Forms
- brokenly adverb
- brokenness noun
- half-broken adjective
- well-broken adjective
- ˈǰԱ adverb
Word History and Origins
Origin of broken1
Example Sentences
Having been in the spotlight for decades, the Beckham brand will survive the feud and it's currently "bruised but not broken", according to Mr Navarra.
Two legs and the main seat were broken, but Ms Menegazzo says "a great job" has been done to restore the piece and it is now back in place.
They talk about a prisons "crisis", a housing "crisis", the "broken" NHS, as well as the climate "crisis".
"It's a tragic feeling to know the tower was at the heart of the community and it now symbolises a broken society," he said.
“At the same time, the companies have broken labor laws by engaging in unlawful surveillance, interrogation of members at actions, threats, and retaliation for union activity. This is unacceptable.”
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