break

Simplex verb

Verb meaning: BREAK [break]

Comment: Break is (a) highly polysemous and (b) occurs in a large number of fixed and semi-fixed expressions with "abstract" objects, e.g. break the law, break a promise, break a record, break the ice, break the silence. In frequency terms, the agentive meaning is probably not the most common.

Examples: see at the bottom

Basic coding frame

Schema: 1-nom > V.subj[1] > 2-acc (> with+3)

#	Microrole	Coding set	Argument type
1	breaker	NP-nom V.subj	A
2	broken thing	NP-acc	P
3	breaking instrument	with+NP	I

Examples for basic coding frame:

(138)

He broke the glass with a hammer. he he broke broke the the glass glass with with a a hammer hammer He broke the glass with a hammer. Comment: Break is (a) highly polysemous and (b) occurs in a large number of fixed and semi-fixed expressions with "abstract" objects, e.g. break the law, break a promise, break a record, break the ice, break the silence. In frequency terms, the agentive meaning is probably not the most common.

Alternations

Alternation	Derived coding frame	Occurs	Comment	# Ex.
		--any-- Never Regularly No data Marginally

Examples

(139)	I accidentally broke the knob off. I I accidentally accidentally broke broke the the knob knob off off I accidentally broke the knob off.
(145)	He broke his arm playing football. he he broke broke his his arm arm playing playing football football He broke his arm playing football. Comment: This is a distinct, polysemic meaning of break.