break down
break down /breɪk daʊn/
verb
-
()
Make a mathematical, chemical, or grammatical analysis of; break down into components or essential features
(
analyse
[Canadian, British] , dissect
, take apart
, analyze
[ N. American] , break down
)
make a mathematical, chemical, or grammatical analysis of; break down into components or essential features
Analyze a specimen
analyze a specimen
Analyze a sentence
analyze a sentence
Analyze a chemical compound
analyze a chemical compound
-
()
Make ineffective
(
crush
, break down
)
make ineffective
Martin Luther King tried to break down racial discrimination
Martin Luther King tried to break down racial discrimination
-
()
Stop operating or functioning
(
conk out
[Informal] , give out
, give way
, break
, die
, go
, go bad
, crap out
[Vulgar] , go phut
[Vulgar] , break down
, fail
)
stop operating or functioning
The engine finally went
The engine finally went
The car died on the road
The car died on the road
The bus we travelled in broke down on the way to town
The bus we travelled in broke down on the way to town
The coffee maker broke
The coffee maker broke
The engine failed on the way to town
The engine failed on the way to town
Her eyesight went after the accident
her eyesight went after the accident
-
()
Lose control of one's emotions
(
lose it
, snap
, break down
)
lose control of one's emotions
When she heard that she had not passed the exam, she lost it completely
When she heard that she had not passed the exam, she lost it completely
When her baby died, she snapped
When her baby died, she snapped
-
()
Fall apart
(
collapse
, break down
, crumple
, crumble
, tumble
)
fall apart
The building crumbled after the explosion
the building crumbled after the explosion
Negotiations broke down
Negotiations broke down
-
Collapse due to fatigue, an illness, or a sudden attack
(
break down
, collapse
)
collapse due to fatigue, an illness, or a sudden attack
Exhausted from the long hike, he collapsed onto the ground.
Exhausted from the long hike, he collapsed onto the ground.
-
(chemistry) separate (substances) into constituent elements or parts
(
break down
, break up
, decompose
)
(chemistry) separate (substances) into constituent elements or parts
-
Cause to fall or collapse
(
break down
)
cause to fall or collapse