Things can break in many different ways. If you drop a glass on the floor, it will probably smash (= break into small pieces), but cups and glasses sometimes only crack (= they break with a line running through them). If wood breaks, it usually splinters (= breaks into thin, sharp pieces), and water pipes and balloons sometimes burst (= air or water comes out).
All these verbs can be either transitive or intransitive - so you can break things or they can break:
- She threw the vase against the wall and it smashed into pieces.
- She smashed the vase against the wall. (= She made it smash.)
They can also be used as nouns:
- I think I've got a splinter in my foot. (= a small piece of glass or wood)
- Don't use that plate. It's got a crack in it.
- There's a break in the wire. That's why the lamp doesn't work.
You can use the past participle form broken as an adjective:
- Oh, no! My watch strap is broken.
But there is another participle form, broke, which is an informal way to say "having no money":
- Sorry, I can't go on holiday with you. I'm completely broke.
A break is a pause and (usually) a chance to rest:
- They worked 15 hours without a break.
- OK, let's stop for a coffee break.
- We're going to Prague for a weekend break.
If someone says Give me a break!, they mean "Stop annoying me" or "Stop asking me to do things":
- Just give me a break, will you? Stop asking so many questions.