Breach Definition
brēch
breached, breaches, breaching
noun
breaches
An opening, tear, or rupture.
American Heritage
A gap or rift, especially in a solid structure such as a dike or fortification.
American Heritage
A failure to observe the terms, as of a law or promise, the customary forms, etc.; violation; infraction.
Webster's New World
An opening made by a breakthrough, as in a wall, line of defense, etc.
Webster's New World
A breaking or being broken.
Webster's New World
Synonyms:
Antonyms:
verb
breached, breaches, breaching
To make a breach in; break open or through.
Webster's New World
To break or violate (a contract, covenant, etc.)
Webster's New World
To leap clear of the water.
Webster's New World
To develop a hole or opening. Used especially of protective embankments.
The rising river caused the levee to breach.
American Heritage
Origin of Breach
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From Middle English breche, from Old English briċe, bryċe (“breach, fracture, breaking, infringement; fragment”), from Proto-Germanic *brukiz (“breach, fissure”), from Proto-Germanic *brukōną, *brekaną (“to break”). Cognate with Scots breach, breiche, bretch, breack (“breach”), Saterland Frisian breeke (“breach, break”), Dutch breuk (“breach”), German Bruch (“breach”). More at break.
From Wiktionary
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Middle English breche from Old English brēc bhreg- in Indo-European roots
From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition
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