station break: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
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Quick answer
What does “station break” mean?
A short pause or interval between television or radio programs, typically used for identification and announcements.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A short pause or interval between television or radio programs, typically used for identification and announcements.
A designated interruption in broadcasting for station identification, advertisements, or network switching.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In American English, it specifically refers to the mandated identification segment. In British English, it's more commonly associated with scheduled intervals in older programming.
Connotations
American: technical broadcasting term; British: nostalgic/archaic broadcasting term.
Frequency
More frequent in American English; declining in contemporary British usage.
Grammar
How to Use “station break” in a Sentence
N + N compoundVocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used in media planning and broadcasting schedules.
Academic
Appears in media studies and communications literature.
Everyday
Rare in casual conversation; understood mainly by older generations.
Technical
Standard term in broadcasting engineering and regulation.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “station break”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “station break”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “station break”
- Using 'station break' to refer to technical malfunctions (e.g., 'The station broke down').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Not exactly. A station break is specifically for station identification and may include commercials, but its primary regulatory purpose is identification.
Typically no, as they are not bound by the same broadcasting regulations that require traditional station identification.
Usually 30-60 seconds in television, though it varies by country and network.
Yes, it originated in radio broadcasting and applies to both mediums.
A short pause or interval between television or radio programs, typically used for identification and announcements.
Station break is usually neutral in register.
Station break: in British English it is pronounced /ˈsteɪʃən breɪk/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈsteɪʃən breɪk/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “We'll be back after this station break.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a TRAIN STATION where trains take a BREAK between journeys - similarly, broadcasting takes a short break between programs.
Conceptual Metaphor
A scheduled breath in the flow of information.
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary purpose of a station break?