01 a. Separated into parts or pieces by violence; divided into fragments; as, a broken chain or rope; a broken dish.
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1.
Separated into parts or pieces by violence; divided into fragments; as, a broken chain or rope; a broken dish.
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2.
Disconnected; not continuous; also, rough; uneven; as, a broken surface.
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3.
Fractured; cracked; disunited; sundered; strained; apart; as, a broken reed; broken friendship.
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4.
Made infirm or weak, by disease, age, or hardships.“The one being who remembered him as he been before his mind was broken.” — G. Eliot.“The broken soldier, kindly bade to stay, Sat by his fire, and talked the night away.” — Goldsmith.
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5.
Subdued; humbled; contrite.“The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit.” — Ps. li. 17.
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6.
Subjugated; trained for use, as a horse.
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7.
Crushed and ruined as by something that destroys hope; blighted.
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8.
Not carried into effect; not adhered to; violated; as, a broken promise, vow, or contract; a broken law.
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9.
Ruined financially; incapable of redeeming promises made, or of paying debts incurred; as, a broken bank; a broken tradesman.
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10.
Imperfectly spoken, as by a foreigner; as, broken English; imperfectly spoken on account of emotion; as, to say a few broken words at parting.“Amidst the broken words and loud weeping of those grave senators.” — Macaulay.
Phrases & compounds
Broken ground —
Rough or uneven ground; as, the troops were retarded in their advance by broken ground.
Broken line —
the straight lines which join a number of given points taken in some specified order.
Broken meat —
fragments of meat or other food.
Broken number —
a fraction.
Broken weather —
unsettled weather.