One of our readers recently asked about the word 'breaking.'

"I know about the word 'breaking,' as in 'breaking glass.'

But what does it mean in 'breaking news'?

And what is the meaning of 'breaking bad'?"

If you watch television news broadcasts from the United States, you often see the words "breaking news."

The noun "break" can mean something that causes a change or a delay in an action.

You may hear a teacher say, "We will take a 10-minute break."

Or you might enjoy a "coffee break," a few minutes away from work.

We have used the word "break" to mean to make "a first and partial disclosure," that is, to make something known to the public, for a long time.

The Online Etymology Dictionary says the word has been used this way for more than 750 years.