What is "break in"

vb. 1 (context intransitive English) To enter a place by force or illicit means. 2 (context transitive idiomatic English) To cause (something, or someone, new) to function more naturally through use or wear 3 (context transitive of a horse English) To tame; make obedient; to train to follow orders of the owner.

1. v. enter someone's property in an unauthorized manner, usually with the intent to steal or commit a violent act; "Someone broke in while I was on vacation"; "They broke into my car and stole my radio!" [syn: break]

2. break into a conversation; "her husband always chimes in, even when he is not involved in the conversation" [syn: chime in, cut in, put in, butt in, chisel in, barge in]

3. start in a certain activity, enterprise, or role

4. intrude on uninvited; "The nosy couple broke in on our conversation"

5. break so as to call inward; "He broke in the door"

6. make submissive, obedient, or useful; "The horse was tough to break"; "I broke in the new intern" [syn: break]

Break in or break-in may refer to:

• Burglary, the criminal act of entering a building to commit an offense, usually theft
• Break-in (mechanical run-in), a procedure for preparing new equipment (such as vehicle engines) for the rest of its working life by running it under prescribed conditions at the beginning
  • Shoe break-in, wearing shoes enough so they feel more comfortable
• Trespass, the act of intruding another's property
• Break In, a 1989 Japanese video game
• Break-in (Death Note episode)