broken meaning and definition

BROKEN adjective

Definition of broken (adjective)

1. physically and forcibly separated into pieces or cracked or split
   • "a broken mirror"; "a broken tooth"; "a broken leg"; "his neck is broken"
   • antonym: unbroken
2. not continuous in space, time, or sequence or varying abruptly
   • "broken lines of defense"; "a broken cable transmission"; "broken sleep"; "tear off the stub above the broken line"; "a broken note"; "broken sobs"
   • antonym: unbroken
3. subdued or brought low in condition or status
   • "brought low"; "a broken man"; "his broken spirit"
   • synonyms: crushed, humbled, humiliated, low
4. (especially of promises or contracts) having been violated or disregarded
   • "broken (or unkept) promises"; "broken contracts"
   • synonyms: unkept
   • antonym: kept
5. tamed or trained to obey
   • "a horse broken to the saddle"; "this old nag is well broken in"
   • synonyms: broken in
6. topographically very uneven
   • "broken terrain"; "rugged ground"
   • synonyms: rugged
7. imperfectly spoken or written
   • "broken English"
8. thrown into a state of disarray or confusion
   • "troops fleeing in broken ranks"; "a confused mass of papers on the desk"; "the small disordered room"; "with everything so upset"
   • synonyms: confused, disordered, upset
9. weakened and infirm
   • "broken health resulting from alcoholism"
10. destroyed financially
    • "the broken fortunes of the family"
    • synonyms: impoverished, wiped out
11. out of working order (`busted' is an informal substitute for `broken')
    • "a broken washing machine"; "the coke machine is broken"; "the coke machine is busted"
    • synonyms: busted
12. discontinuous
    • "broken clouds"; "broken sunshine"
13. lacking a part or parts
    • "a broken set of encyclopedia"