1. The act or an instance of breaking up, as a division, dispersal, or disintegration.
2. The discontinuance of a relationship, as a marriage or a friendship.
3. The cracking and shifting of ice in rivers or harbors during the spring.
4. A loss of control or composure.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.