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Break in
verb, slang
Definitions
Verb
- 1 To enter a place by force or illicit means. intransitive
"Someone broke in and stole his radio."
- 2 make submissive, obedient, or useful wordnet
- 3 To reach a state of functioning more smoothly through use or wear; to cause (something, or someone, new) to undergo this change. ambitransitive, ergative, idiomatic
"These shoes will be more comfortable after they have broken in."
- 4 break so as to fall inward wordnet
- 5 Starting something brand new or at a new level. idiomatic, transitive
"He broke in with the New York Yankees."
Show 8 more definitions
- 6 start in a certain activity, enterprise, or role wordnet
- 7 To tame; make obedient; to train to follow orders of the owner. transitive
"Captain had been broken in and trained for an army horse; his first owner was an officer of cavalry going out to the Crimean War. He said he quite enjoyed the training with all the other horses, trotting together, turning together, to the right hand or to the left, halting at the word of command, or dashing forward at full speed at the sound of the trumpet, or signal of the officer."
- 8 break into a conversation wordnet
- 9 To take the virginity of a girl, to deflower. colloquial, transitive
"While brothel patrons placed their bets / On who would be the first to break her in"
- 10 intrude on uninvited wordnet
- 11 To interrupt one's conversation; speak before another person has finished speaking. intransitive
- 12 enter someone's (virtual or real) property in an unauthorized manner, usually with the intent to steal or commit a violent act wordnet
- 13 To initiate a new person into prostitution or prison sex acts. slang, transitive
See also for "break in"
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