breach
breach /br'iːtʃ/ (breaches breaching breached)
1 [VERB] V n
If you breach an agreement, a law, or a promise, you break it.
The newspaper breached the code of conduct on privacy...
= violate
2 [N-VAR]
A breach of an agreement, a law, or a promise is an act of breaking it.
The congressman was accused of a breach of secrecy rules.
...a $1 billion breach of contract suit.
= violation
3 [N-COUNT] usu N in/between n
A breach in a relationship is a serious disagreement which often results in the relationship ending. (FORMAL)
Their actions threatened a serious breach in relations between the two countries.
...the breach between Tito and Stalin.
= rift, rupture
4 [VERB] V n
If someone or something breaches a barrier, they make an opening in it, usually leaving it weakened or destroyed. (FORMAL)
Fire may have breached the cargo tanks and set the oil ablaze.
= rupture
5 [VERB] V n
If you breach someone's security or their defences, you manage to get through and attack an area that is heavily guarded and protected.
The bomber had breached security by hurling his dynamite from a roof overlooking the building.
[N-COUNT]
Breach is also a noun.
...widespread breaches of security at Ministry of Defence bases.
6 [PHRASE] V inflects
If you step into the breach, you do a job or task which someone else was supposed to do or has done in the past, because they are suddenly unable to do it.
I was persuaded to step into the breach temporarily when they became too ill to continue.breach of the peace (breaches of the peace)
[N-VAR]
A breach of the peace is noisy or violent behaviour in a public place which is illegal because it disturbs other people. (LEGAL)
He admitted causing a breach of the peace...
Four men were found guilty of breach of the peace.
1 [VERB] V n
If you breach an agreement, a law, or a promise, you break it.
The newspaper breached the code of conduct on privacy...
= violate
2 [N-VAR]
A breach of an agreement, a law, or a promise is an act of breaking it.
The congressman was accused of a breach of secrecy rules.
...a $1 billion breach of contract suit.
= violation
3 [N-COUNT] usu N in/between n
A breach in a relationship is a serious disagreement which often results in the relationship ending. (FORMAL)
Their actions threatened a serious breach in relations between the two countries.
...the breach between Tito and Stalin.
= rift, rupture
4 [VERB] V n
If someone or something breaches a barrier, they make an opening in it, usually leaving it weakened or destroyed. (FORMAL)
Fire may have breached the cargo tanks and set the oil ablaze.
= rupture
5 [VERB] V n
If you breach someone's security or their defences, you manage to get through and attack an area that is heavily guarded and protected.
The bomber had breached security by hurling his dynamite from a roof overlooking the building.
[N-COUNT]
Breach is also a noun.
...widespread breaches of security at Ministry of Defence bases.
6 [PHRASE] V inflects
If you step into the breach, you do a job or task which someone else was supposed to do or has done in the past, because they are suddenly unable to do it.
I was persuaded to step into the breach temporarily when they became too ill to continue.breach of the peace (breaches of the peace)
[N-VAR]
A breach of the peace is noisy or violent behaviour in a public place which is illegal because it disturbs other people. (LEGAL)
He admitted causing a breach of the peace...
Four men were found guilty of breach of the peace.