breakaway: Meaning and Definition of

break•a•way

Pronunciation: (brāk'u-wā"), [key]
— n.
  1. an act or instance of breaking away; secession; separation: the breakaway of two provinces from a state.
  2. a departure or break from routine or tradition: a three-day breakaway in the Bahamas.
  3. a person or thing that breaks away.
  4. an object, as a theatrical prop, constructed so that it breaks or falls apart easily, esp. upon impact.
  5. a sudden rush down the ice by a player or players in an attempt to score a goal, after breaking clear of defending opponents.
  6. a run by an offensive player breaking through the defense for a long gain.
  7. See
    1. a stampede.
    2. an animal that breaks away from the herd or flock.
—adj.
  1. of, pertaining to, or being that which separates or secedes: the breakaway faction of the Socialist party.
  2. departing from routine or tradition.
  3. constructed of such lightweight material or in such a way as to shatter or come apart easily: breakaway highway signposts; Build a breakaway set for the barroom brawl.
  4. (of theatrical costumes) constructed so as to be quickly removable, as by a performer playing several roles.
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.
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