break down

Verb

Plain form break down

Third-person singular breaks down

Past tense broke down

Past participle broke down

Present participle breaking down

Plain form break down

Third-person singular breaks down

Past tense broken down

Past participle broken down

Present participle breaking down

1. (transitive) If something breaks down, it fails, usually having to do with a machine of some kind.

   As Betty was driving, her car broke down in the middle of the road.

2. (transitive) If something living breaks down, it decays; it decomposes.
3. (transitive) If someone breaks down, they become unstable, either in their mind or some other way.
4. (transitive) If information or something else is broken down, it is given in great detail.

Synonyms

• (fails, usually about machines):
  • fail
• (decomposes):
  • decompose
  • decay

See also

• breakdown