housebreaking
/ˈhaʊsˌbreɪkɪŋ/
noun
- The act of illegally entering a building, especially a home, with the intent to commit a crime, usually theft.
- The police reported a rise in housebreaking in the downtown area.
- Housebreaking is a serious crime that can result in heavy fines or jail time.
- He was sentenced to three years in prison for housebreaking.
verb
- Present participle of housebreak; the process of training a pet to relieve itself in appropriate places.
- Housebreaking a stubborn dog requires patience and consistency.
- She is currently housebreaking her new kitten using a litter box.
- The hardest part of having a puppy is housebreaking it.