WordWeb Online

1. The act of breaking away or withdrawing from
   "there was a breakaway by the discontented members";
   - breaking away

1. Having separated or advocating separation from another entity or policy or attitude
   "a breakaway faction";
   - fissiparous, separatist

1. Move away or escape suddenly
   "The horses broke away from the stable";
   - break, break out
    
2. Break off (a piece from a whole)
   "Her tooth broke away";
   - chip, chip off, come off, break off
    
3. Interrupt a continued activity
   - break
    
4. Withdraw from an organization or communion
   "After the break up of the Soviet Union, many republics broke away";
   - secede, splinter
    
5. Flee; take to one's heels; cut and run
   "If you see this man, break away!";
   - scat, run, scarper, turn tail, lam [N. Amer], run away, hightail it, bunk, head for the hills, take to the woods, escape, fly the coop, leg it [Brit]

Derived forms: breaks away, broke away, breakaways, breaking away, broken away

See also: break, independent

Type of: break, break loose, break up, divide, escape, get away, go away, go forth, leave, part, secession, separate, split, split up, withdrawal

Encyclopedia: Breakaway