ɪˈskeɪp ɹʌn ˈskɑː(ɹ).pə(ɹ) sɪˈsiːd break off (a piece from a whole) Her tooth chipped move away or escape suddenly The horses broke from the stable Three inmates broke jail Nobody can break out — this prison is high security flee; take to one's heels; cut and run If you see this man, run! The burglars escaped before the police showed up withdraw from an organization or communion After the break up of the Soviet Union, many republics broke away interrupt a continued activity She had broken with the traditional patterns