breakdown

[breyk-doun]

noun

1. a breaking down, wearing out, or sudden loss of ability to function efficiently, as of a machine.

2. a loss of mental or physical health; collapse.

3. an analysis or classification of something; division into parts, categories, processes, etc.

4. Chemistry.

   1. decomposition.

   2. analysis.

5. Electricity.,  an electric discharge passing through faulty insulation or other material used to separate circuits or passing between electrodes in a vacuum or gas-filled tube.

6. a noisy, lively folk dance.

Word History and Origins

Origin of breakdown¹

First recorded in 1825–35; noun use of verb phrase break down

Example Sentences

The proportion of attacking phases in which the ball is moved 20 metres laterally from the previous breakdown has nearly doubled.

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The dry form appears most often and involves the slow breakdown of retinal cells that help the eye process detail and color.

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Here’s a breakdown of some of the key points in the plan and how Ukraine and its European allies might respond.

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BBC News NI asked it to provide a breakdown of its total costs for the case, after it emerged the government spent £4.3m on the veteran's defence.

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A breakdown below 6,500 would be extremely negative for U.S. stocks.

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Related Words

• disintegration 
• disruption 
• failure 
• mishap 
• nervous breakdown