1. [n]  a failure to perform some promised act or obligation
2. [n]  a personal or social separation (as between opposing factions); "they hoped to avoid a break in relations"
3. [n]  an opening (especially a gap in a dike or fortification)
4. [v]  make an opening or gap in
5. [v]  act in disregard of laws and rules; "offend all laws of humanity"; "violate the basic laws or human civilization"; "break a law"

1. \Breach\, n. [OE. breke, breche, AS. brice, gebrice,
   gebrece (in comp.), fr. brecan to break; akin to Dan.
   br[ae]k, MHG. breche, gap, breach. See {Break}, and cf.
   {Brake} (the instrument), {Brack} a break] .
   1. The act of breaking, in a figurative sense.
   
   2. Specifically: A breaking or infraction of a law, or of any
      obligation or tie; violation; non-fulfillment; as, a
      breach of contract; a breach of promise.
   
   3. A gap or opening made made by breaking or battering, as in
      a wall or fortification; the space between the parts of a
      solid body rent by violence; a break; a rupture.
   
            Once more unto the breach, dear friends, once more;
            Or close the wall up with our English dead. --Shak.
   
   4. A breaking of waters, as over a vessel; the waters
      themselves; surge; surf.
   
            The Lord hath broken forth upon mine enemies before
            me, as the breach of waters.          --2 Sam. v.
                                                  20?
   
   {A clear breach} implies that the waves roll over the vessel
      without breaking.
   
   {A clean breach} implies that everything on deck is swept
      away. --Ham. Nav. Encyc.
   
   5. A breaking up of amicable relations; rupture.
   
            There's fallen between him and my lord An unkind
            breach.                               --Shak.
   
   6. A bruise; a wound.
   
            Breach for breach, eye for eye.       --Lev. xxiv.
                                                  20?
   
   7. (Med.) A hernia; a rupture.
   
   8. A breaking out upon; an assault.
   
            The Lord had made a breach upon Uzza. --1. Chron.
                                                  xiii. 11?
   
   {Breach of falth}, a breaking, or a failure to keep, an
      expressed or implied promise; a betrayal of confidence or
      trust.
   
   {Breach of peace}, disorderly conduct, disturbing the public
      peace.
   
   {Breach of privilege}, an act or default in violation of the
      privilege or either house of Parliament, of Congress, or
      of a State legislature, as, for instance, by false
      swearing before a committee. --Mozley. Abbott.
   
   {Breach of promise}, violation of one's plighted word, esp.
      of a promise to marry.
   
   {Breach of trust}, violation of one's duty or faith in a
      matter entrusted to one.
   
   Syn: Rent; cleft; chasm; rift; aperture; gap; break;
        disruption; fracture; rupture; infraction; infringement;
        violation; quarrel; dispute; contention; difference;
        misunderstanding.
   
   

2. \Breach\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Breached}; p. pr. & vb. n.
   {Breaching}.]
   To make a breach or opening in; as, to breach the walls of a
   city.
   
   

3. \Breach\, v. i.
   To break the water, as by leaping out; -- said of a whale.
   
   

an opening in a wall (1 Kings 11:27; 2 Kings 12:5); the fracture of a limb (Lev. 24:20), and hence the expression, "Heal, etc." (Ps. 60:2). Judg. 5:17, a bay or harbour; R.V., "by his creeks."