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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. Compare scattered ( def 4 ).
- 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
/ ˈbrəʊkən /
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 run
a broken note
- 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
- Alsobroken-in made tame or disciplined by training
a broken recruit
a broken horse
- 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
- informal.drunk
Derived Forms
- ˈbrokenly, adverb
Other Words From
- broken·ly adverb
- broken·ness noun
- half-broken adjective
- well-broken adjective
Word History and Origins
Origin of broken1
Example Sentences
She said some of the rules governing CICs may have been broken.
Zuraya Hadad instinctively winces as we watch a video of the incident in which her ribs were broken by a masked man wielding a large stick.
“Our broken Healthcare System harms everyday Americans, and crushes our Country’s budget,” Trump said.
Early last year, Leno crashed his motorcycle and wound up with a broken collarbone, two broken ribs and two cracked kneecaps.
“They lead to broken bodies, broken families and the last thing you want is having to be treated by someone like me, teaching you how to walk and stand again,” he said.
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