1.bread的基本意思是“面包”“蓬松烘饼”,还可指“食物”“营养”,引申还可表示“生计”“谋生之道”“钱”。
2.bread是物质名词,表示单纯物质概念时,没有复数形式,如要表示数量,须在其前使用具有单复形式的计量单位,加上of结构,如:a loaf〔slice, piece〕 of, loaves〔slices, pieces〕 of。a bread还可指一份面包或一种面包, breads则指多份面包或多种面包。

beg for bread
乞食,讨饭 ask for (money, food)
They went from house to house, begging the people for bread.他们挨家挨户地向人们乞食。

bread and butter
1.涂了奶油的面包bread spread with butter
〔说明〕 本短语不指“面包和牛奶”，而是“涂了奶油的面包”。所以当其在句中作主语时，谓语动词用单数形式。
The bread and butter is too thick.这块奶油面包太厚了。
The bread and butter is thickly spread with strawberry jam.在涂有奶油的面包上厚厚地抹上草莓酱。
2.生计，饭碗living; livelihood
He doesn't just write for fun. Writing is his bread and butter.他写作不只是为了乐趣，写作是他的饭碗。

bread and water
简单的饮食 plainest possible food
I had to live on bread and water when I was a student.我上大学时只能靠粗茶淡饭过活。

break bread with
一起进餐 have dinner together
I little thought that I should be breaking bread and pouring wine with you.我想不到竟会跟你一起进餐饮酒。

Bread to Westerners is just like rice to most Chinese.面包对于西方人就像大米对于大多数中国人一样。
Have you bought in enough bread for the weekend?你买了足够的面包过周末了吗?
The bread was burnt black and hard.面包烤得又焦又硬。
Would you like bread or rice?你要面包还是米饭?
He brought out his knife and cut a piece of bread in two.他拿出小刀把一块面包切成两半。
I had three pieces of bread for breakfast this morning.今天早餐我吃了三块面包。
This is a better kind of bread than the one I bought yesterday.这种面包比我昨天买的那种好。
What kinds of breads did you buy today?你今天买了哪几种面包?
Black Dobson sold breads and rolls.布莱克·多伯逊卖各种面包和卷饼。
He spent all his uncle's bread on wine and beer.他把叔叔的钱全都花在葡萄酒和啤酒上。
You must figure out some way of getting some bread.你必须想出某些赚钱的办法。
This is your big bread.这可是你的大好机会。

下面两句意思不同:
This bread and butter is too thick.
这涂黄油的面包太厚了。
The bread and the butter have gone up in price.
面包和黄油涨价了。
bread and butter已成为一种不可分割的整体,故谓语动词用单数形式。当谓语动词用复数形式时,表示两种食品。

bread在美国俚语中还可指“衣食父母”“老板”“雇主”,多用于作雇员之间的隐语。