English

Verb

break bread ‎(third-person singular simple present breaks bread, present participle breaking bread, simple past and past participle broke bread)

1. To eat a meal, especially to eat a shared meal with friends.
   • 1611, King James Version of the Bible, Acts, 20:7:

     And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight.

   • 1879, Anthony Trollope, John Caldigate, ch. 63:

     At last it was decided that he should take her, reaching the place about the hour of lunch, so that he might again break bread in her father's house.

2. (Christianity) To take part in Holy Communion.
   • 1979, Ronald E. Osborn, The Faith We Affirm, ISBN 9780827210097, p. 61:

     In baptism we make covenant; in communion we renew covenant week by week. . . . After offering prayers of thanksgiving, together we break bread and drink from the cup.

Derived terms

• breaking of bread

Translations