break up
1 (v + adv) into pieces TRANSITIVEit breaks up the ice briseann sé an t-oighear ina phíosaíthe boats were broken up by the storm bhris an stoirm na báid as a chéile, rinne an stoirm smionagar de na báid
INTRANSITIVEthe concrete is breaking up tá an choincréit ag briseadh ina píosaí
2 (v + adv) interrupt layout TRANSITIVEbris suas the space was broken up by trees bhí an spás briste suas le crainnwe break up writing with paragraphs brisimid suas an scríbhneoireacht le hailt, cuirimid ailt isteach leis an scríbhneoireacht a bhriseadh suasTaispeáin iontráil iomlán
3 (v + adv) divide TRANSITIVEroinn verb the company was broken up briseadh an comhlacht ina chodannashe broke it up into two parts bhris sí ina dhá chuid é, roinn sí ina dhá chuid éthe country was broken up into two states rinneadh dhá stát den tír 4 (v + adv) terminate
INTRANSITIVEthe alliance broke up thit an chomhghuaillíocht as a chéilethe relationship broke up thit an caidreamh as a chéile, tháinig deireadh leis an gcaidreamhshe broke up with her boyfriend scar sí lena stócach, bhris sí suas lena buachaill
5 (v + adv) of fight: stop TRANSITIVEI had to break up a fight b'éigean dom troid a stopadh, b'éigean dom stop a chur le troid
INTRANSITIVEthe fight broke up tháinig deireadh leis an troid
6 (v + adv) of crowd: disperse INTRANSITIVEscaip verb the crowd broke up scaip an sluathe meeting broke up tháinig deireadh leis an gcruinniú, scoir an cruinniú
7 (v + adv) finish school INTRANSITIVEschool has broken up tá an scoil dúnta, tá an scoilbhliain thart, tá deireadh leis an scoilbhliainthe children break up for the summer bíonn na páistí ar saoire sa samhradh, bíonn na páistí réidh leis an scoil sa samhradh 8 (v + adv) TELECOM be distorted INTRANSITIVEbris suas the picture is breaking up tá an pictiúr ag briseadh suasyou're breaking up tá tú ag briseadh suas, tá an líne ag briseadh 9 (v + adv) informal cause distress TRANSITIVEit really broke me up bhris sé mo chroí, ghoill sé go mór orm, chuir sé as go mór domit breaks me up that I have to leave briseann sé mo chroí go gcaithfidh mé imeacht 10 (v + adv) informal (US) make sb laugh TRANSITIVEthe kids break me up bím lagaithe ag gáire ag na páistí, cuireann na páistí sna trithí gáire mé → féach break