break down
Verb
[change]|
Plain form |
Third-person singular |
Past tense |
Past participle |
Present participle |
|
Plain form |
Third-person singular |
Past tense |
Past participle |
Present participle |
- (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.
- (transitive) If something living breaks down, it decays; it decomposes.
- (transitive) If someone breaks down, they become unstable, either in their mind or some other way.
- (transitive) If information or something else is broken down, it is given in great detail.
Synonyms
[change]- (fails, usually about machines): fail
- (decomposes): decompose, decay