Crossword Dictionary

What's The Definition Of Breach?

\Breach\, n. [OE. breke, breche, AS. brice, gebrice, gebrece (in comp.), fr. brecan to break; akin to Dan. br[ae]k, MHG. breche, gap, breach. See {Break}, and cf. {Brake} (the instrument), {Brack} a break] . 1. The act of breaking, in a figurative sense. 2. Specifically: A breaking or infraction of a law, or of any obligation or tie; violation; non-fulfillment; as, a breach of contract; a breach of promise. 3. A gap or opening made made by breaking or battering, as in a wall or fortification; the space between the parts of a solid body rent by violence; a break; a rupture. Once more unto the breach, dear friends, once more; Or close the wall up with our English dead. --Shak. 4. A breaking of waters, as over a vessel; the waters themselves; surge; surf. The Lord hath broken forth upon mine enemies before me, as the breach of waters. --2 Sam. v. 20? {A clear breach} implies that the waves roll over the vessel without breaking. {A clean breach} implies that everything on deck is swept away. --Ham. Nav. Encyc. 5. A breaking up of amicable relations; rupture. There's fallen between him and my lord An unkind breach. --Shak. 6. A bruise; a wound. Breach for breach, eye for eye. --Lev. xxiv. 20? 7. (Med.) A hernia; a rupture. 8. A breaking out upon; an assault. The Lord had made a breach upon Uzza. --1. Chron. xiii. 11? {Breach of falth}, a breaking, or a failure to keep, an expressed or implied promise; a betrayal of confidence or trust. {Breach of peace}, disorderly conduct, disturbing the public peace. {Breach of privilege}, an act or default in violation of the privilege or either house of Parliament, of Congress, or of a State legislature, as, for instance, by false swearing before a committee. --Mozley. Abbott. {Breach of promise}, violation of one's plighted word, esp. of a promise to marry. {Breach of trust}, violation of one's duty or faith in a matter entrusted to one. Syn: Rent; cleft; chasm; rift; aperture; gap; break; disruption; fracture; rupture; infraction; infringement; violation; quarrel; dispute; contention; difference; misunderstanding.
\Breach\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Breached}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Breaching}.] To make a breach or opening in; as, to breach the walls of a city.
\Breach\, v. i. To break the water, as by leaping out; -- said of a whale.