Dictionary

break up

Verb

break up

(intransitive) To break or separate into pieces; to disintegrate or come apart.
It broke up when it hit the ground.
(intransitive, idiomatic) To end a relationship.
She broke up with her boyfriend last week.
(reciprocal, intransitive) To end a relationship with each other.
Jane and Stephen broke up.
(intransitive, idiomatic) To dissolve; to part.
''The meeting finally broke up after a three-hour discussion.
- 1898, J. Meade Falkner, Moonfleet Chapter 4
  So the meeting broke up, and the torchlight grew dimmer, and died away as it had come in a red flicker on the roof, and the footsteps sounded fainter as they went up the passage, until the vault was left to the dead men and me.
(intransitive, idiomatic) Of a school, to close for the holidays at the end of term.
(intransitive, idiomatic) Of a telephone conversation, to cease to be understandable because of a bad connection.
You're breaking up. Can you repeat that?
(transitive) To break or separate into pieces.
Break up the cheese and put it in the salad.
(transitive, idiomatic) To stop a fight; to separate people who are fighting.
The police came in to break up the disturbance.
(intransitive, idiomatic, figuratively) Become disorganised