breakdown

American  

[breyk-doun] / ˈbreɪkˌdaʊn /

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.

---

Etymology

Origin of breakdown

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

Example Sentences

The breakdown of fallen leaves plays a key role in trapping and storing microplastics in the soil.

From Science Daily

That leads to the breakdown of civilization, a state where only the law of the jungle remains.”

From The Wall Street Journal

Rather than being an exception, the breakdown of Amontons' law in this case follows directly from the behavior of magnetic ordering during sliding.

From Science Daily

Will they have the baserunning blunders, the bullpen breakdowns, the terrible at-bats?

From Los Angeles Times

The country's electricity generation is sustained by a network of eight aging thermoelectric plants -- some in operation for over 40 years -- that suffer frequent breakdowns or must be shut down for maintenance cycles.

From Barron's

Related Words

• disintegration
• disruption
• failure
• mishap
• nervous breakdown