BREACH

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does breach mean? 

• BREACH (noun)
  The noun BREACH has 3 senses:

1. a failure to perform some promised act or obligation

2. an opening (especially a gap in a dike or fortification)

3. a personal or social separation (as between opposing factions)

  Familiarity information: BREACH used as a noun is uncommon.

• BREACH (verb)
  The verb BREACH has 2 senses:

1. act in disregard of laws, rules, contracts, or promises

2. make an opening or gap in

  Familiarity information: BREACH used as a verb is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• BREACH (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A failure to perform some promised act or obligation

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Hypernyms ("breach" is a kind of...):

failure (an unexpected omission)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "breach"):

breach of contract (a breach of a legal duty; failure to do something that is required in a contract)

breach of duty (a breach of due care)

Derivation:

breach (act in disregard of laws, rules, contracts, or promises)

Sense 2

Meaning:

An opening (especially a gap in a dike or fortification)

Classified under:

Nouns denoting natural objects (not man-made)

Hypernyms ("breach" is a kind of...):

gap; opening (an open or empty space in or between things)

Derivation:

breach (make an opening or gap in)

Sense 3

Meaning:

A personal or social separation (as between opposing factions)

Classified under:

Nouns denoting natural events

Synonyms:

breach; break; falling out; rift; rupture; severance

Context example:

they hoped to avoid a break in relations

Hypernyms ("breach" is a kind of...):

breakup; detachment; separation (coming apart)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "breach"):

schism (the formal separation of a church into two churches or the withdrawal of one group over doctrinal differences)

• BREACH (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they breach    ... he / she / it breaches   
Past simple: breached   
Past participle: breached   
-ing form: breaching   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Act in disregard of laws, rules, contracts, or promises

Classified under:

Verbs of political and social activities and events

Synonyms:

breach; break; go against; infract; offend; transgress; violate

Context example:

break a promise

Hypernyms (to "breach" is one way to...):

disrespect (show a lack of respect for)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "breach"):

sin; transgress; trespass (commit a sin; violate a law of God or a moral law)

blunder; boob; drop the ball; goof; sin (commit a faux pas or a fault or make a serious mistake)

conflict; contravene; infringe; run afoul (go against, as of rules and laws)

trespass (break the law)

intrude; trespass (enter unlawfully on someone's property)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

breach (a failure to perform some promised act or obligation)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Make an opening or gap in

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Synonyms:

breach; gap

Hypernyms (to "breach" is one way to...):

open; open up (cause to open or to become open)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

breach (an opening (especially a gap in a dike or fortification))

 Context examples 

He was afraid that he might call too soon, and so be guilty of an awful breach of that awful thing called etiquette.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

It is then the interest of the enemies of this potentate to secure and publish this letter, so as to make a breach between his country and ours?

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

There was little difficulty in entering the grounds, for unrepaired breaches gaped in the old park wall.

(The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

He added that localized breaches in the BBB may allow regionally precise delivery of drugs to attack tumor cells even in the earliest stage.

(Brain tumor invasion along blood vessels may lead to new cancer treatments, NIH)

Flooding can also happen when a river or stream overflows its bank, when a levee is breached, or when a dam breaks.

(Floods, Federal Emergency Management Agency)

Then came the supremacy of Brummell, and the open breach upon the subject of velvet collars, in which the town followed the lead of the younger man.

(Rodney Stone, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

This person is alone and cannot be approached by letter without a breach of that absolute secrecy which is desired.

(His Last Bow, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Issue associated with the device being received in such a manner to indicate that its sterility has been compromised (e.g. sterile packaging breached, visible contaminate present).

(Medical Device Delivered As Unsterile Product, Food and Drug Administration)

I replied—There is no dishonour, no breach of promise, no desertion in the case. I am not under the slightest obligation to go to India, especially with strangers.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

A letter of proper submission! repeated he; would they have me beg my mother's pardon for Robert's ingratitude to HER, and breach of honour to ME?

(Sense and Sensibility, by Jane Austen)