breakpoint
breakpoint Lexical Profile
breakpoint Game Scores & Validity
• noun
In computing, an intentional stopping or pausing place set in a program for debugging purposes, allowing a developer to inspect the program's state.
"The developer set a breakpoint on line forty-two to inspect the variable values before the loop executed."
In responsive web design, a predefined screen width or viewport size at which a website's layout adjusts to provide an optimal viewing experience across different devices.
"We added a media query breakpoint at 768 pixels so the navigation menu collapses cleanly on tablet screens."
A specific threshold, volume, or stage at which an important change occurs, such as an investment amount in a mutual fund that qualifies the buyer for a reduced sales charge.
"By increasing her mutual fund contribution slightly, she reached the next breakpoint and lowered her front-end commission fee."
Word Nuance & Usage
The closed compound "breakpoint" is standard in computing, web design, and finance, whereas the open form "break point" is typically used in tennis for a point that can win a game against the server, and "breaking point" refers to the moment of maximum emotional or physical strain.