1. the act of illegally entering a building with the intent to commit theft or another crime
Usage: legal term; also called burglary in modern usage
2. the process of training a pet, especially a dog, to urinate and defecate outside the house or in a designated area
Usage: also called potty training or toilet training when referring to pets

Examples

• The police investigated several housebreakings in the neighborhood last month.
• Housebreaking is a serious felony that can result in imprisonment.
• Puppies require patience and consistency during the housebreaking process.
• Most dogs can be successfully housebroken by six months of age.
• The detective worked on solving three housebreakings that occurred on the same street.
• Housebreaking a new puppy takes time and positive reinforcement.