Definition Definition

broken - Meaning and Examples

Meaning of 'broken' (Webster Dictionary)

1 . Broken [ p. p.]
- of Break
2 . Broken [ v. t.]
- Separated into parts or pieces by violence; divided into fragments; as, a broken chain or rope; a broken dish.
- Disconnected; not continuous; also, rough; uneven; as, a broken surface.
- Fractured; cracked; disunited; sundered; strained; apart; as, a broken reed; broken friendship.
- Made infirm or weak, by disease, age, or hardships.
- Subdued; humbled; contrite.
- Subjugated; trained for use, as a horse.
- Crushed and ruined as by something that destroys hope; blighted.
- Not carried into effect; not adhered to; violated; as, a broken promise, vow, or contract; a broken law.
- Ruined financially; incapable of redeeming promises made, or of paying debts incurred; as, a broken bank; a broken tradesman.
- Imperfectly spoken, as by a foreigner; as, broken English; imperfectly spoken on account of emotion; as, to say a few broken words at parting.

Meaning of 'broken' (Princeton's WordNet)

1 . broken [ a]
Meaning (1):
- not continuous in space, time, or sequence or varying abruptly
Example in sentence:
  • a broken cable transmission;
  • a broken note;
  • broken lines of defense;
  • broken sleep;
  • broken sobs;
  • tear off the stub above the broken line
Meaning (2):
- physically and forcibly separated into pieces or cracked or split
Example in sentence:
  • a broken leg;
  • a broken mirror;
  • a broken tooth;
  • his neck is broken
Meaning (3):
- (especially of promises or contracts) having been violated or disregarded
Example in sentence:
  • broken (or unkept) promises;
  • broken contracts
4 . broken [ s]
Meaning (4):
- subdued or brought low in condition or status
Example in sentence:
  • a broken man;
  • brought low;
  • his broken spirit
Meaning (5):
- lacking a part or parts
Example in sentence:
  • a broken set of encyclopedia
Meaning (6):
- out of working order (`busted' is an informal substitute for `broken')
Example in sentence:
  • a broken washing machine;
  • the coke machine is broken;
  • the coke machine is busted
Meaning (7):
- thrown into a state of disarray or confusion
Example in sentence:
  • a confused mass of papers on the desk;
  • the small disordered room;
  • troops fleeing in broken ranks;
  • with everything so upset
Meaning (8):
- tamed or trained to obey
Example in sentence:
  • a horse broken to the saddle;
  • this old nag is well broken in
Meaning (9):
- discontinuous
Example in sentence:
  • broken clouds;
  • broken sunshine
Meaning (10):
- imperfectly spoken or written
Example in sentence:
  • broken English
Meaning (11):
- weakened and infirm
Example in sentence:
  • broken health resulting from alcoholism
Meaning (12):
- topographically very uneven
Example in sentence:
  • broken terrain;
  • rugged ground
Meaning (13):
- destroyed financially
Example in sentence:
  • the broken fortunes of the family