dictionary · e01.org

break down

Fetched 2026-10-26 (cache).

Synonyms: breakdown, breaks down, break-down, bear down, beat down, tread down, beam down, break downs

Antonyms: breakdown, breaks down, break-down, bear down, beat down, tread down, beam down, break downs

Related words from Datamuse; suggestions, not definitions.

Verb

  1. {{senseid|en|stop functioning, v.i.}} {{lb|en|intransitive|of a [[machine]], [[computer]], [[vehicle]], etc.}} To [[stop]] [[functioning]].
  2. {{senseid|en|unexpectedly collapse, physically, v.i.}} {{lb|en|intransitive}} To [[unexpectedly]] [[collapse]], [[physically]] or in [[structure]].
  3. {{senseid|en|intentionally demolish, v.t.}} {{lb|en|transitive}} To [[intentionally]] [[demolish]]; to [[pull down]].
  4. {{senseid|en|fail, v.i., including nonphysically}} {{lb|en|intransitive}} To [[fail]], especially [[socially]] or for [[political]] [[reason]]s.
  5. {{senseid|en|give in or give up, v.i.}} {{lb|en|intransitive|idiomatic}} To [[give in]] or [[give up]]: relent, concede, surrender.
  6. {{senseid|en|of a person, render or become unstable}} {{lb|en|ergative|figuratively}} To render or to become [[unstable]] due to stress, to [[collapse]] physically or mentally.
  7. {{senseid|en|render or become weak, figuratively}} {{lb|en|ergative|figuratively}} To render or to become [[weak]] and [[ineffective]].
  8. {{senseid|en|decay or decompose physically, v.i. or v.t.}} {{lb|en|ergative}} To (cause to) [[decay]], to [[decompose]].
  9. {{senseid|en|take apart, v.t.}} To separate into a number of parts.
  10. {{senseid|en|analyze, explain analytically}} {{lb|en|ergative|figuratively}} To [[divide]] into parts to give more details, to provide a more [[indepth]] analysis of.
  11. {{senseid|en|digest, v.t. or v.i.}} {{lb|en|ergative}} To [[digest]].
  12. {{lb|en|informal|music}} To [[bust down]] or [[bust a move]]; to perform energetic, often freestyle or hip-hop moves, frequently during a song’s instrumental [[break]] where only [[drums]] or [[bass]] are playing; see {{m|en|breakdown}}.

Noun

  1. {{alt form|en|breakdown}}.

Source: Wiktionary · CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wiktionary dump) · cached copy, not a rewrite.