Lexic.us

Definition of Break open

1. Verb. Open with force. "They want to break open the doors"; "He broke open the picnic basket"

2. Verb. Come open suddenly and violently, as if from internal pressure. "The wooden sticks break open "; "The bubble burst"

3. Verb. Erupt or intensify suddenly. "The crowd irrupted into a burst of patriotism"

Lexicographical Neighbors of Break Open

break loose break new ground break of dawn break of day break of serve break of the day break off break on the wheel break one's arm patting oneself on the back break one's back

break one's duck break one's fall break one's fast break one's lance break one off break open (current term) break out break point break points break ranks

break room break rooms break seal break shock break short break silence break someone's heart break stride break the Sabbath break the back of

Literary usage of Break open

Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:

1. Historia Placitorum Coronae: The History of the Pleas of the Crown by Sollom Emlyn, Matthew Hale (1847)
"579, 580, 583 For what end constable, or any other, during affray, may break open doors, unless one dangerously wounded or killed. 589. ii. ..."

2. The Law of the Office and Duties of the Sheriff: With the Writs and Forms by Alexander Carmichael Bruce, Cameron Churchill (1879)
"And further, when the sheriff's officer who has entered a house to distrain, or execute process, is forcibly ejected, he may If de- ^ break open the door in ..."

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