Phrasal Verb - Breaking Apart
· 3 min read
Image uploaded to Pixabay by EDDIE_LEE_KR
.Definition
The phrasal verb "to break apart" generally refers to the act of separating into multiple pieces or components, often implying a loss of cohesion, integrity, or unity. This separation can occur due to various reasons, including force, stress, decay, or a deliberate action, and it can be applied in both literal and figurative contexts.
-
Literal Sense (Physical Disintegration):
- Objects/Materials: To physically fragment or shatter into smaller pieces. This applies to brittle objects, structures, or materials that can no longer withstand external forces or internal stresses. For example, a glass dropping and breaking apart, or a bridge breaking apart during an earthquake.
- Decomposition: To decompose or disintegrate into constituent parts, often referring to organic matter breaking down over time.
-
Figurative Sense (Loss of Cohesion or Unity):
- Relationships/Groups: To dissolve, disintegrate, or cease to function as a cohesive unit. This is commonly used for families, friendships, marriages, organizations, alliances, or social groups that lose their unity, cohesion, or purpose and separate into individual components or smaller factions. It implies a fracturing of bonds or structure.
- Emotional/Mental State: To experience a severe emotional or mental collapse; to lose one's composure, stability, or sense of reality. This is often used to describe a person's inner world or emotional state becoming fractured or overwhelmed.
- Concepts/Ideas: Less commonly, it can mean to analyze or dissect a complex idea, problem, or system by separating it into its fundamental parts for better understanding or examination.
Examples
| No. | Example |
|---|---|
| 1 | The old wooden fence began to break apart after years of exposure to the relentless weather. |
| 2 | Their once-strong political alliance started to break apart under the pressure of conflicting ideologies. |
| 3 | Scientists observed the comet breaking apart as it entered the planet's gravitational field. |
| 4 | She felt her entire world breaking apart when she received the devastating news about her family. |
| 5 | The antique vase threatened to break apart if handled without extreme care and delicacy. |
| 6 | The company's management team began to break apart due to irreconcilable disagreements over strategy. |
| 7 | The child loved watching his elaborate LEGO spaceship break apart with a single, dramatic push. |
| 8 | After the powerful earthquake, several historic buildings in the city were found to have broken apart. |
| 9 | Their close friendship slowly broke apart over a series of unaddressed misunderstandings and resentments. |
| 10 | To fully understand the complex theory, the professor advised us to break apart its constituent arguments. |