1. An accidental interruption of a broadcast programme.
2. To open a circuit suddenly by means of a switch or other device.
3. The minimum gap between the contacts needed for the circuit of such a device to be open.
Geology and Earth Sciences
The onset of an event, in particular the first break. A sudden onset of new energy giving rise to a noticeably different amplitude event. A time break is the shot-instant time mark on a seismic record. See alsouphole time.