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   Breach

   /brēCH/

   

   noun

   • 1. an act of breaking or failing to observe a law, agreement, or code of conduct: "a breach of confidence" Similar contraventionviolationbreakingnonobservanceinfringementtransgressionneglectderelictionfailure to observenoncompliance withinfractiondelict
   • ▪ a break in relations: "a sudden breach between father and son" Similar riftgulfchasmdivisiondifferenceschismdisunionestrangementalienationdiscorddissensiondisaffectionseparationsplitbreakbreakuppartingparting of the waysseverancerupturequarrelfalling-outinformal:bust-uprare:scission
   • 2. a gap in a wall, barrier, or defense, especially one made by an attacking army: "a breach in the mountain wall" Similar breakrupturesplitcrackfracturerentriftopeninggapholefissurecleftaperture

   verb

   • 1. make a gap in and break through (a wall, barrier, or defense): "the river breached its bank" Similar break (through)burst (through)ruptureforce itself throughsplitinformal:bust
   • ▪ break or fail to observe (a law, agreement, or code of conduct): "these outside bodies are bootlegging albums and breaching copyright" Similar breakcontraveneviolatefail to comply withinfringetransgress againstdefydisobeyfloutfly in the face ofinfract
   • 2. (of a whale) rise and break through the surface of the water: "we saw whales breaching in the distance"

   Word Origin Middle English: from Old French breche, ultimately of Germanic origin; related to break1.

   Scrabble Points: 13

   • B

     3

   • R

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   • E

     1

   • A

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   • C

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   • H

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