这些名词均含有“中止，停止，休息”之意。
break : 非正式用词，指突然的或短时间的中止，如工作或活动期间接短暂休息。
- Finally there was a break in the rain and we went out.
雨终于停了，我们都出来了。 - a coffee break
喝咖啡的休息时间 - We were talking about it at break.
我们课间休息时在谈论这事。 - Take a couple of weeks off - you need a break.
请两个星期的假吧——你需要休息。 - How long is the Christmas break this year?
今年的圣诞假期有多长？ - We decided to have a short/spring/winter/weekend break in Paris.
我们决定在巴黎停留一下／休春假／休寒假／度周末。
rest : 指统称的休息。
- After they had carried the piano up the stairs, they stopped for a rest.
他们把钢琴搬到楼上后，停下来休息了一会儿。 - The doctor prescribed some pills and told her to get/have a week's rest.
医生开了些药，并嘱咐她休息一周。
pause : 指短暂的中断或停止，含再进行下去的意味。
- There was a long pause before she answered.
她停了好一会儿才回答。 - David waited for a pause in the conversation so he could ask his question.
戴维等着谈话停下来，好问个问题。 - After a brief pause, they continued climbing.
他们略停了一下就继续爬山。 - The rain fell without pause .
雨不停地下着。
interval : 指一出戏在幕与幕之间，音乐会上下串场之间或演出中预先安排的休息；也可泛指事件之间的一段时间。
- There will be two 20-minute intervals during the opera.
歌剧演出中有两次20分钟的幕间休息。 - He scored his first goal of the match three minutes after the interval.
下半场刚开始3分钟，他就射入了他本场比赛的第一个进球。
recess : 正式用词，指业务活动或工作中短暂的或长时间的休息。
- The conference broke for a recess.
会议暂时休会。 - Parliament returns to work today after its summer recess.
国会在结束夏季休会后今天开始恢复工作。 - The chairman of the meeting announced a ten-minute recess.
会议主席宣布休会10分钟。
cease : 正式用词，侧重逐渐结束某活动或状态，含永远结束的意味。
- They agreed on a cease fire.
他们就停火问题达成协议。
stop : 普通用词，指迅速或突然中止某行为、活动或状态。
- Please remain in your seat until the plane comes to a complete stop.
请在飞机停稳前留在自己的座位上。 - We'd have been here sooner, but we made several stops along the way.
我们本来可以早点儿到这儿的，但我们中途停了好几次。 - At the beginning of the project there were a lot of stops and starts.
项目开始的时候，有很多磕磕绊绊。
