break into

2. To relax a tense or unduly formal atmosphere or social situation.

To expel intestinal gas.

[Middle English breken. from Old English brecan ; see bhreg- in Indo-European roots .]

Synonyms: break , crack , fracture , burst , splinter , shatter , smash
These verbs mean to become separated into parts or pieces, either by the sudden application of force or by the pressure of internal stress. Break is the most general: That delicate ornament will break easily. The bag held so many heavy things that it broke.
To crack is to break without dividing into parts: The building's foundation cracked during the earthquake.
Crack can also mean to break apart: "Burning branches crack from trees and fall in showers of sparks at my feet" (Suzanne Collins).
Fracture applies to a break or crack in a rigid body: Heat and pressure caused the bedrock to fracture.
Burst implies a sudden coming apart, especially from internal pressure: "Even when their bellies seemed about to burst, their mouths craved more and they drank on" (Ian McEwan).
Splinter implies splitting into long, thin, sharp pieces: The boat's hull splintered when it hit the reef.
To shatter is to break into many scattered pieces: The icicle shattered when it landed on the front steps.
Smash stresses force of blow or impact and suggests complete destruction: I dropped the vase, and it smashed into pieces.
All of these verbs can also be used transitively (that is, they can take a direct object) as in break the glass or fracture your arm. See Also Synonyms at opportunity .

break into

vb (intr, preposition )

1. (Law) to enter (a house, etc) illegally, esp by force

2. to change abruptly from a slower to a faster speed: the horse broke into a gallop.

3. to consume (supplies held in reserve): at the end of the exercise the soldiers had to break into their iron rations.

Thesaurus Antonyms Related Words Synonyms Legend:

break into - express or utter spontaneously; "break into a yodel"; "break into a song"; "break into tears"

let loose. let out. utter. emit - express audibly; utter sounds (not necessarily words); "She let out a big heavy sigh"; "He uttered strange sounds that nobody could understand"

break into - change pace; "The dancers broke into a cha-cha"; "The horse broke into a gallop"

change - undergo a change; become different in essence; losing one's or its original nature; "She changed completely as she grew older"; "The weather changed last night"