What does "breakdown" mean?
A failure, particularly one which is mechanical in nature.
Breakdown
/ˈbɹeɪkdaʊn/ noun
noun ·Common ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A failure, particularly one which is mechanical in nature.
- Grammar: breakdown is listed as noun.
- Nearest alternatives: decomposition, allocation, analyses, analysis.
- Useful contrasts: aggregate function, conversational repair, conversational repair process.
- Usage evidence: She is on the verge of a nervous breakdown.
How to use "breakdown"
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Meaning check
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Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "breakdown" in a final draft.
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Before you rely on this definition
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Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
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Final meaning check
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Definitions
Noun
- 1 A failure, particularly one which is mechanical in nature. countable
"Whenever he was behind the wheel, he would panic at the first sign of a breakdown."
- 2 the act of disrupting an established order so it fails to continue wordnet
- 3 A failure, particularly one which is mechanical in nature.; The sudden (and usually damaging) transition of an electrical insulator to a conductor when subjected to a sufficiently strong voltage, caused by the partial or complete ionization of the insulator; (countable) an instance of this; also, the minimum voltage at which this occurs. uncountable
- 4 an analysis into mutually exclusive categories wordnet
- 5 Something, such as a vehicle, that has experienced a mechanical failure. countable
"We saw a breakdown by the side of the road."
Show 18 more definitions
- 6 a cessation of normal operation wordnet
- 7 Separation of a thing into components; decomposition, fragmentation; (countable) an instance of this.; Detailed categorization, or itemization or listing, of the components of a thing; (countable) an instance of this. uncountable
"Looking at the breakdown of the budget, I see a few items we could cut."
- 8 (biology) the process of decay caused by bacterial or fungal action wordnet
- 9 Separation of a thing into components; decomposition, fragmentation; (countable) an instance of this.; Breaking of chemical bonds within a compound to produce simpler compounds or elements; (countable) an instance of this. uncountable
- 10 (chemistry) separation of a substance into two or more substances that may differ from each other and from the original substance wordnet
- 11 Separation of a thing into components; decomposition, fragmentation; (countable) an instance of this.; A detailed description of a forthcoming project or screenplay which identifies all the required elements, such as the cast, costumes, equipment, props, and special effects. countable
- 12 a mental or physical breakdown wordnet
- 13 A failure in a relationship; a failure or loss of organization in a system. countable, figuratively
"I am quite competent to answer all / Demands, in any such capacity— / But of the break-down of my general aims: […]"
- 14 (Sudden) worsening of physical health or (more commonly) mental stability, resulting in an inability to carry on normal activities; (countable) an instance of this. figuratively, uncountable
"After so much stress, he suffered a breakdown and simply gave up."
- 15 Injury to a horse's leg causing lameness; (countable) an instance of this. figuratively, uncountable
- 16 The short period of open play immediately after a tackle and before and during the ensuing ruck. countable, figuratively, uncountable
"England beat Georgia in their Pool B World Cup match in Dunedin but the stuttering nature of the performance will be of concern to manager Martin Johnson. Georgia, ranked 16th in the world, dominated the breakdown before half-time and forced England into a host of infringements, but fly-half Merab Kvirikashvili missed three penalties."
- 17 An act of splitting logs of wood using a large saw in a sawmill; also, the saw used; or (rare) the building in which the process is carried out. attributive, countable, figuratively
- 18 A part of a piece of music or a song which differs from the other parts in that it features improvisation or is stripped down (for example, played by fewer instruments or a solo performer). countable, uncountable
"And now it's time for a breakdown."
- 19 Synonym of percussion break (“a percussion-focused segment of a song, chosen by a hip-hop DJ to manipulate through cutting, mixing, and other techniques in order to create rhythmic music”). countable, uncountable
- 20 A section of a song, typical in hardcore music and related styles (such as metalcore, grindcore, and deathcore), characterized by a lower tempo and greater heaviness and intensity of sound. countable, uncountable
"The fired-up foursome [Trial] takes itself very seriously, singing politically charged lyrics, which, in the tradition of Strife and Damnation AD, are strategically placed in the middle of slamming, moshable breakdowns."
- 21 A noisy, rapid, shuffling dance engaged in competitively by a number of individuals or pairs in succession, common among African-Americans from the Southern United States; also, a lively event, chiefly in a rural setting, at which such dancing is done; a hoedown, a shindig. Southern-US, countable, dated, uncountable
"Come, hold on, boys, do n't clear out when the quadrilles are over, for we are going to have a break down to wind up with."
- 22 A piece of music played for such a dance, especially a rapid bluegrass tune featuring a five-string banjo. Southern-US, countable, uncountable
"Without a change of countenance, as if he were deaf to her entreaties and threats, he tuned up the banjo, and played a breakdown."
- 23 An act of a structure or other thing breaking and collapsing. countable, obsolete
Antonyms
aggregate functionconversational repairconversational repair processitalian sistema
Example
"She is on the verge of a nervous breakdown."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "breakdown"?
Common synonyms include: decomposition, allocation, analyses, analysis, analysis, analyzation.
How do you use "breakdown" in a sentence?
She is on the verge of a nervous breakdown.
How do you pronounce "breakdown"?
Pronounced /ˈbɹeɪkdaʊn/.
Etymology
Deverbal from break down.