n. [ OE. breke, breche, AS. brice, gebrice, gebrece (in comp.), fr. brecan to break; akin to Dan. bræk, MHG. breche, gap, breach. See Break, and cf. Brake (the instrument), Brack a break ] . 1. The act of breaking, in a figurative sense. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

Once more unto the breach, dear friends, once more;
Or close the wall up with our English dead. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. A breaking of waters, as over a vessel; the waters themselves; surge; surf. [ 1913 Webster ]

The Lord hath broken forth upon mine enemies before me, as the breach of waters. 2 Sam. v. 20. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. A breaking up of amicable relations; rupture. [ 1913 Webster ]

There's fallen between him and my lord
An unkind breach. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. A bruise; a wound. [ 1913 Webster ]

Breach for breach, eye for eye. Lev. xxiv. 20. [ 1913 Webster ]

7. (Med.) A hernia; a rupture. [ 1913 Webster ]

8. A breaking out upon; an assault. [ 1913 Webster ]

The Lord had made a breach upon Uzza. 1. Chron. xiii. 11. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

-
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. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- Rent; cleft; chasm; rift; aperture; gap; break; disruption; fracture; rupture; infraction; infringement; violation; quarrel; dispute; contention; difference; misunderstanding. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. To break the water, as by leaping out; -- said of a whale. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Apt to break fences or to break out of pasture; unruly; as, breachy cattle. [ 1913 Webster ]