breach

Everyday

1. A breach is the breaking of a rule, law, promise or agreement: «a breach of the rules». tree →
2. A breach is a gap or hole made in a wall, dam or defence. tree →
3. To breach something is to break through it: «The sea breached the wall». tree →
4. (formal) A data breach is when private information is stolen or leaked. tree →
5. When a whale breaches, it jumps up out of the water. tree →
6. A breach can also be a huge wave that crashes over the deck of a ship. tree →

In the lessons

In everyday life and safety: a data breach means passwords or details have been stolen, so people must change passwords. In school rules «a breach of the rules» is a formal way to say someone broke a rule. In history and geography stories, enemies breach walls and floods breach river banks. Phrases: breach of the rules, breach of trust, data breach, breach of the peace, step into the breach (help when someone is missing).

Examples

• Copying in the exam is a breach of the school rules. tree →
• The flood water breached the river bank. tree →
• The company had a data breach, so we changed our passwords. tree →
• Reading her diary was a breach of trust. tree →
• We watched a whale breach right next to the boat. tree →
• When the goalkeeper was ill, Sam stepped into the breach. tree →
• The soldiers made a breach in the castle wall. tree →
• It was impossible to render assistance; the sea rushed in upon the vessel, making a clean breach over her. tree →

Note

Sounds like «breech» (the back part of a gun, or a baby born feet first), but means something different. «Breach» is formal; at home people would say «break the rules». Plural «breaches».

In Jewish tradition

A breach is a break or gap. In the law "breach for breach" means a wound for a wound, and in Genesis Perez's name means "breach." In Lamentations and Job it is also a gap in a wall or a deep wound, a picture of ruin and grief.

Interpretation. Tradition reads "eye for eye" as a rule that payment should match the harm, and the rabbis taught that it means money compensation, not cutting the body. Perez is also the ancestor of King David. Lamentations calls the fall of Jerusalem a breach "great like the sea," a picture of the people's deep wound.

Examples

• breach for breach, eye for eye, tooth for tooth; as he hath maimed a man, so shall it be rendered unto him. (Torah LEV.24.20, JPS 1917) tree →
• And it came to pass, as he drew back his hand, that, behold his brother came out; and she said: 'Wherefore hast thou made a breach for thyself?' Therefore his name was called Perez. (Torah GEN.38.29, JPS 1917) tree →
• For thy breach is great like the sea; who can heal thee? (Writings LAM.2.13, JPS 1917) tree →
• He breaketh me with breach upon breach; He runneth upon me like a giant. (Writings JOB.16.14, JPS 1917) tree →
• Mine eye runneth down with rivers of water, for the breach of the daughter of my people. (Writings LAM.3.48, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

Sounds like «breech» (the back part of a gun, or a baby born feet first), but means something different. «Breach» is formal; at home people would say «break the rules». Plural «breaches».