What is a pawn break? I did some research (google), but it still unclear to me on exactly what a pawn break is.  I was reading this question: The theory of pawn breaks about the theory of pawn breaks, but before I could understand this, it would be helpful if I actually knew what a pawn break is.  If someone can explain it simply and have some diagram(s), that would be best.
A pawn break is a pawn move designed to free the player's position.
Generally speaking, a pawn move is only called a pawn break when the moving pawn is on a file adjacent to two enemy pawns facing each other, and the pawn moves forward to the same rank as the player's other pawn.
Since a picture is worth a thousand words...
[FEN &quot;8/8/8/4p3/3pP3/3P4/2P2P2/8 w - - 0 1&quot;]

White can play either 1. c3 or 1. f4 and these moves would be considered pawn breaks because they attack a black pawn that is blocking a white pawn (the d and e pawns respectively).
1. f3, however, is NOT a pawn break because it does not attack an enemy pawn.  Similarly 1. c4 is not a pawn break, even though black could capture the pawn with 1... dxc3 e.p. and get to the same resulting position because again, it does not attack a black pawn.