- the act or a result of breaking; a break or rupture: Many districts were flooded by the river after a breach in an embankment upstream.
- an infraction or violation, such as of a law, contract, trust, or promise: If there is a breach of the warranty, we are not liable for damage.
- a gap made in a wall, fortification, line of soldiers, etc.; rift; fissure: A breach in the castle walls gave the enemy an entrance.
- the unauthorized acquisition, use, or disclosure of customers' or users' personal data: There's no indication of a data breach affecting credit card information.
- a severance of friendly relations.
- the leap of a whale above the surface of the water.
- the breaking of waves; the dashing of surf.
- wound1.
- to make a rupture or opening in: We need new ways to recover salmon without breaching the dams.
- to break or act contrary to (a law, promise, etc.): The plaintiff alleges that the defendant has breached the terms of their license.
- (of a whale) to leap partly or completely out of the water, head first, and land on the back or belly with a resounding splash.
- more honored in the breach (than the observance),
- (of a rule, law, custom, etc.) frequently ignored or rarely carried out: Courtly love was just an ideal, more honored in the breach than the observance.Even the best advice may be more honored in the breach.
- (of a rule, law, custom, etc.) unjust or ignoble to the point of being better to ignore: They agreed that the promises made to their unfit leader would be more honored in the breach than the observance.
- a crack, break, or rupture
- a breaking, infringement, or violation of a promise, obligation, etc
- any severance or separation
- a gap in an enemy's fortifications or line of defence created by bombardment or attack
- the act of a whale in breaking clear of the water
- the breaking of sea waves on a shore or rock
- an obsolete word for wound 1
- to break through or make an opening, hole, or incursion in
- to break a promise, law, etc
- (of a whale) to break clear of the water
