pp. of break.

reduced to fragments; fragmented.

ruptured; torn; fractured.

not functioning properly; out of working order.

Meteorology . (of sky cover) being more than half, but not totally, covered by clouds. Compare scattered ( def. 4 ) .

changing direction abruptly

The fox ran in a broken line.

fragmentary or incomplete

a broken ton of coal weighing 1,500 pounds.

infringed or violated

A broken promise is a betrayal of trust.

interrupted, disrupted, or disconnected

After the phone call he returned to his broken sleep.

weakened in strength, spirit, etc.

His broken health was due to alcoholism.

tamed, trained, or reduced to submission

The horse was broken to the saddle.

imperfectly spoken, as language

She still speaks broken English.

spoken in a halting or fragmentary manner, as under emotional strain

He uttered a few broken words of sorrow.

disunited or divided

Divorce results in broken families.

not smooth; rough or irregular

We left the plains and rode through broken country.

ruined; bankrupt

the broken fortunes of his family.

Papermaking, Printing . a quantity of paper of less than 500 or 1000 sheets.

Forcibly separated into two or more pieces; fractured

a broken arm; broken glass.