breakthrough
|break/through|
/ˈbreɪkˌθru/
significant advance
Etymology
'breakthrough' originates from the combination of 'break' and 'through', where 'break' meant 'to separate into parts' and 'through' meant 'from one side to the other'.
'breakthrough' evolved from the literal sense of breaking through a barrier to its modern figurative sense of achieving a significant advance.
Initially, it meant 'to physically break through a barrier', but over time it evolved into its current meaning of 'achieving a significant advance'.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a significant or sudden advance, development, or achievement, especially in knowledge or technology.
The discovery of penicillin was a major breakthrough in medicine.
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Last updated: 2025/01/11 11:35