Infringe - English meaning

noun

An act of breaking or failing to observe a law, agreement, or code of conduct.

Usage examples:

A breach of confidence

verb

Make a gap in and break through (a wall, barrier, or defence).

Usage examples:

The river breached its bank

verb

Separate or cause to separate into pieces as a result of a blow, shock, or strain.

Usage examples:

The branch broke with a loud snap

noun

An interruption of continuity or uniformity.

Usage examples:

The magazine has been published without a break since 1950

noun

Former term for breaking cart.

verb

Examine (something) in order to determine its accuracy, quality, or condition, or to detect the presence of something.

Usage examples:

Customs officers have the right to check all luggage

noun

An examination to test or ascertain accuracy, quality, or satisfactory condition.

Usage examples:

A campaign calling for regular checks on gas appliances

exclamation

Us spelling of cheque.

noun

An agreement or settlement of a dispute that is reached by each side making concessions.

Usage examples:

Eventually they reached a compromise

verb

Settle a dispute by mutual concession.

Usage examples:

In the end we compromised and deferred the issue

noun

An agreement between two sides who have different opinions, in which each side gives up something it had wanted

Usage examples:

Under the compromise, car manufacturers must use cleaner fuel but have more time to do it., his opp…

verb

Offend against the prohibition or order of (a law, treaty, or code of conduct).

Usage examples:

He contravened the official secrets act

verb

To not obey a rule or law, or to not do what you promised

Usage examples:

The toy manufacturer contravened safety codes by using toxic paints on its dolls.

noun

A check or restraint on something.

Usage examples:

Plans to introduce tougher curbs on insider dealing

verb

Variant spelling of kerb.

noun

A stone edging to a pavement or raised path.

noun

Physical harm that impairs the value, usefulness, or normal function of something.

Usage examples:

Bombing caused extensive damage to the town

verb

Inflict physical harm on (something) so as to impair its value, usefulness, or normal function.

Usage examples:

The car was badly damaged in the accident

verb

To harm or spoil something

Usage examples:

Many buildings were badly damaged by the earthquake., news reports damaged the senator’s reputation…

verb

Openly resist or refuse to obey.

Usage examples:

A woman who defies convention

verb

Make or become less.

Usage examples:

The new law is expected to diminish the government's chances

verb

To reduce or be reduced in size or importance

Usage examples:

[ i ] the threat of inflation is diminishing., [ t ] a single-payer system would diminish the burea…

verb

To reduce or be reduced in size, importance, or value

Usage examples:

If consumers start losing confidence, it will diminish demand for household goods., investors can d…

verb

Fail to obey (rules, a command, or someone in authority).

Usage examples:

Around 1,000 soldiers had disobeyed orders and surrendered

verb

To intentionally fail to do what you are told or expected to do; not obey

Usage examples:

[ t ] half of the city’s drivers tend to disobey rules and behave poorly.

verb

Pay no attention to; ignore.

Usage examples:

The body of evidence is too substantial to disregard

noun

The action or state of paying no attention to something.

Usage examples:

Blatant disregard for the law

noun

Lack of consideration or respect

Usage examples:

The writer has shown a reckless disregard for the truth., the jury was told to disregard the commen…

verb

Interrupt (an event, activity, or process) by causing a disturbance or problem.

Usage examples:

Flooding disrupted rail services

verb

To prevent something, esp. a system, process, or event, from continuing as usual or as expected

Usage examples:

A heavy fall of snow disrupted traffic during the rush hour., [ c ] strikes threaten more disruptio…

verb

To prevent something, especially a system, process, or event, from continuing as usual or as expected

Usage examples:

Meetings with her lawyers did not disrupt the schedule., commerce could be disrupted in a cyberterr…

verb

Interfere with the normal arrangement or functioning of.

Usage examples:

Take the rollers out carefully so as not to disturb the curls too much

verb

To cause someone to stop what the person is doing, or to interrupt an activity

Usage examples:

Please don’t disturb jimmy – he’s trying to do his homework., this year’s election campaign has dis…

verb

To interrupt what someone is doing

Usage examples:

Please don't disturb your sister - she's trying to do her homework., i'm sorry to disturb you so la…

verb

Come or go into (a place).

Usage examples:

She entered the kitchen

noun

A key on a computer keyboard which is used to perform various functions, such as executing a command or selecting options on a menu.

Usage examples:

The games are rather shallow and require only the use of the four arrow keys and the enter key on y…

verb

To come or go into

verb

(of wind, water, or other natural agents) gradually wear away (soil, rock, or land).

Usage examples:

The cliffs on this coast have been eroded by the sea

verb

To weaken or damage something by taking away parts of it gradually, or to become weaker in this way

Usage examples:

[ t ] budget cuts could further erode the benefit package provided for by the contract.

verb

To slowly reduce or destroy something, or to be slowly reduced or destroyed

Usage examples:

Erode value/profits/margins sudden movements in exchange and interest rates can erode profit margin…

verb

Openly disregard (a rule, law, or convention).

Usage examples:

The advertising code is being flouted

verb

Treat with contemptuous disregard

verb

To intentionally disobey a rule or law, or to intentionally avoid behavior that is usual or expected

Usage examples:

They think they can flout the law and get away with it., he conducted business in his pajamas to fl…

verb

Weaken or damage (something, especially a faculty or function).

Usage examples:

A noisy job could permanently impair their hearing

verb

To damage or weaken something so that it is less effective

Usage examples:

Lack of sleep impaired her ability to think clearly., [ c ] the law bans discrimination against any…

verb

(of an armed force) enter (a country or region) so as to subjugate or occupy it.

Usage examples:

During the second world war the island was invaded by the axis powers

verb

March aggressively into a territory by military force

verb

To enter a place by force, often in large numbers

Usage examples:

[ t ] the allies were poised to invade germany., [ t ] fig. i think that the opportunity is definit…

noun

A point or level beyond which something does not or may not extend or pass.

Usage examples:

The failure showed the limits of british power

verb

Set or serve as a limit to.

Usage examples:

Try to limit the amount you drink

noun

The greatest amount, number, or level allowed or possible

Usage examples:

There’s a limit to her patience., two cups of coffee are my limit., spending limits were imposed by…

verb

Go beyond the limits of (what is morally, socially, or legally acceptable).

Usage examples:

She had transgressed an unwritten social law

verb

To break a law or moral rule

Usage examples:

Those are the rules, and anyone who transgresses will be severely punished.

verb

Erode the base or foundation of (a rock formation).

Usage examples:

The flow of water had undermined pillars supporting the roof

verb

To gradually weaken or destroy someone or something

Usage examples:

The incompetence and arrogance of the city’s administration have undermined public confidence in go…

verb

Break or fail to comply with (a rule or formal agreement).

Usage examples:

They violated the terms of a ceasefire

verb

Fail to agree with; go against

verb

To break or act against something such as a law, agreement, or principle, or to not respect something that should be treated with respect

Usage examples:

The planes appear to have deliberately violated the cease-fire agreement., questions of this kind v…

verb

Make or become weaker in power, resolve, or physical strength.

Usage examples:

Fault lines had weakened and shattered the rocks

verb

To make or become weak or weaker

Usage examples:

[ i ] the country’s economy continues to weaken., [ t ] long exposure to vibration can weaken aircr…

verb

To become or make something or someone become less powerful, successful, effective, etc.

Usage examples:

A series of scandals weakened investor confidence., the plan has divided the country and weakened t…