breakdown
- 01 B1 Intermediate
a situation where a vehicle or machine stops working.
a mechanical failure, typically involving a motor vehicle or industrial machinery, that prevents continued operation.
Simple“The heavy rain caused a breakdown of the heating system in the office.”
In context“The frequent mechanical breakdowns of the aging fleet have led to significant delays in the city's public transport schedule.”
Synonyms - 02 B2 Upper Intermediate
a list of all the separate parts of something, like a bill or a report.
the division of a total into its constituent parts for the purpose of detailed analysis or explanation.
Simple“Can you give me a breakdown of the costs for the kitchen renovation?”
In context“The financial report provides a comprehensive breakdown of expenditure across all regional departments for the final fiscal quarter.”
Synonyms - 03 B2 Upper Intermediate
a period of mental illness that makes it impossible to live your life normally.
a period of acute mental distress or psychological collapse that renders an individual unable to function in daily life.
Simple“He suffered a nervous breakdown after working too many hours for months.”
In context“The intense pressure of the executive role eventually led to a complete physical and mental breakdown, requiring several months of clinical recovery.”
- 04 B2 Upper Intermediate
when a relationship, a talk, or a system stops working or fails.
the collapse or failure of a relationship, process, or social structure.
Simple“The breakdown of communication between the two countries led to a trade war.”
In context“Sociologists are studying the breakdown of traditional family structures in rapidly urbanizing environments.”
Synonyms - 05 C1 Advanced
a part of a song where the music changes, often becoming simpler or heavier.
a section of a musical composition characterized by a reduction in instrumentation or a shift to a heavy, rhythmic focus.
Simple“The crowd started dancing wildly during the heavy breakdown in the middle of the song.”
In context“The track features a sophisticated breakdown where the percussion takes center stage, stripping away the melodic layers to emphasize the rhythmic complexity.”
- 06 C1 Advanced
the process of a substance rotting or breaking into smaller parts.
the chemical or biological decomposition of a substance into its constituent elements.
Simple“Bacteria help with the breakdown of organic waste in the soil.”
In context“The enzyme is responsible for the rapid breakdown of complex carbohydrates into simple sugars during the digestive process.”
SynonymsAntonyms
“Scientists say climate breakdown is causing more frequent and more extreme weather events, evaporating soils and waterways, fuelling wildfires and leading to thousands of excess deaths in France.”
“Government figures also provide a regional breakdown of the number of prisoners released into homelessness.”
Deverbal from break down.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.