romperroto (participio_de_pasado)
verbo transitivo
1 (partir, destrozar) (intencionadamente) [+juguete, mueble, cuerda] to break [+rama] to break; break off [+vaso, jarrón, cristal] to break; smash
los ladrones entraron rompiendo la puerta a patadas the burglars got in by kicking down the door
la onda expansiva rompió los cristales the shock wave broke o smashed the windows
(rasgar) [+tela, vestido, papel] to tear; rip ¡cuidado, que vas a romper las cortinas! careful, you'll tear o rip the curtains!; se disgustó tanto con la carta que la rompió en pedazos he was so angry about the letter that he tore o ripped it up
(por el uso) [+zapatos, ropa] to wear out [+barrera] to break down; break through to break down tratan de romper barreras en el campo de la informática they are trying to break down barriers in the area of computing
romper la barrera del sonido to break the sound barrier
romper aguas
todavía no ha roto aguas her waters haven't broken yet
romper la cara a algn to smash sb's face in (familiar)
romper el hielo to break the ice
romper una lanza en favor de algn/algo to stick up for sb/sth
no haber roto un plato
se comporta como si no hubiera roto un plato en su vida he behaves as if butter wouldn't melt in his mouth
de rompe y rasga
es una mujer de rompe y rasga she's not someone to mess with
quien rompe paga one must pay the consequences for one's actions
2 (terminar) [+equilibrio, silencio, maleficio, contrato] to break; [+relaciones, amistad] to break off
hagamos algo distinto que rompa la rutina let's do something different to break the routine
la patronal ha roto el pacto con los sindicatos employers have broken the agreement with the unions
romper la racha de algo to break a run of sth
romper el servicio a algn (Tenis) to break sb's service
verbo intransitivo
2 (salir) [+diente] to come through [+capullo, flor] to come out
romper entre algo to break through sth; burst through sth; los manifestantes rompieron entre el cordón de seguridad the demonstrators broke o burst through the security cordon
4 (empezar)
romper a hacer algo to (suddenly) start doing sth; (suddenly) start to do sth; rompió a proferir insultos contra todo el mundo he suddenly started hurling o to hurl insults at everyone
al verme rompió a llorar when he saw me he burst into tears; romper en llanto to break down in tears
cuando rompa el hervor when it comes to the boil
5 (separarse) [+pareja, novios] to split up
hace algún tiempo que rompieron they split up some time ago
romper con [+novio, amante] to split up with; break up with; [+amigo, familia] to fall out with; [+aliado] to break off relations with; [+tradición, costumbre, pasado] to break with; [+imagen, tópico, leyenda] to break away from
ha roto con su novio she has broken o split up with her boyfriend
Albania rompió con China en 1978 Albania broke off relations with China in 1978
han roto con una tradición de siglos they have broken with a centuries-old tradition
verbo pronominal
romperse1 (partirse, destrozarse) [+juguete, mueble, cuerda] to break; [+plato, cristal] to break; smash
la rama se ha roto con el viento the branch broke (off) in the wind
se me rompió un dedo en el accidente my finger got broken in the accident; I broke a finger in the accident
(uso enfático) me he roto la muñeca jugando al tenis I broke my wrist playing tennis; no te vayas a romper de tanto trabajar don't strain yourself working so hard (irónico)
romperse la cabeza (pensar mucho) to rack one's brains; (preocuparse) to kill o.s. worrying
2 (rasgarse) [+tela, papel] to tear; rip
tiraron del gorro de papel hasta que se rompió they pulled the paper hat till it tore o ripped; se me han roto los pantalones I've torn o ripped my trousers
3 (estropearse) [+coche, motor] to break down; [+televisor] to break
se ha roto la lavadora the washing machine is broken; the washing machine has broken down
4 (gastarse) [+ropa, zapatos] to wear out
se le han roto los pantalones por las rodillas his trousers have worn (through) at the knees
6 (Arg) (Uru) (esforzarse)
no me rompí mucho, no valía la pena I didn't go to a lot of trouble, it wasn't worth it; el pobre se rompe tanto y saca malas notas the poor guy works like crazy and gets really bad marks (familiar); así se lo agradecés a tu madre que se rompe todo por vos that's how you thank your mother, who does all she can for you