Definition of BREAK DOWN
BREAK DOWN Verb
Break down refers to the process of reducing something into its simpler components or elements. It can be used in a scientific context, such as in biology or chemistry, where substances are broken down into their basic parts. For example, “Enzymes break down food in the digestive system into nutrients the body can absorb.” This process of decomposition or disintegration can also apply to non-living materials, such as the breakdown of a chemical compound under certain conditions or when natural elements like water and air cause materials to degrade over time.
Analyze or Simplify: Break down can also mean to dissect or simplify a complex issue, problem, or concept into smaller, more understandable parts. This usage is common in education, business, and problem-solving contexts. For example, “The teacher broke down the mathematical equation to help students understand the steps involved.” Similarly, in discussions or reports, breaking down information into more manageable parts allows for clearer understanding and communication.
Mechanical or System Failure: In technical or mechanical contexts, break down is used to describe the sudden malfunction or failure of a machine, system, or device. This could be due to wear and tear, technical issues, or other causes that prevent it from functioning properly. For instance, “The car broke down on the highway, leaving us stranded,” illustrates how this term applies to the failure of machinery or systems to perform as expected.
Emotional or Mental Collapse: Break down is also used to describe the emotional or psychological state of a person who becomes overwhelmed by stress, grief, or anxiety. In this sense, it refers to an individual’s inability to cope or maintain composure, often leading to tears or an emotional outburst. For example, “She broke down in tears after receiving the bad news,” emphasizes the emotional release that occurs when someone is unable to manage intense emotions.
Break down is a versatile verb that can refer to processes of decomposition, simplification, system failure, or emotional collapse. Whether in scientific contexts, intellectual discussions, mechanical situations, or personal experiences, the term captures moments of division, malfunction, or loss of control. This wide applicability allows it to be used in various fields, reflecting both physical and emotional processes, making it a common and significant term in daily language.
Examples of BREAK DOWN in a sentence
- The car started to break down after years of use.
- We need to break down the problem into smaller parts to solve it.
- After hearing the news, she began to break down in tears.
- The machine will break down if it isn’t properly maintained.
- He asked the teacher to break down the complex theory.
- If we don’t fix it, the system could break down at any moment.
- Negotiations may break down if neither side is willing to compromise.
- Over time, plastic can break down in the environment, releasing harmful chemicals.
Origin of BREAK DOWN
Break down traces its origins to the combination of the verbs break and down. The term evolved from literal meanings related to breaking into smaller parts to its modern usage, which includes both physical and metaphorical senses of disintegration or failure.
- Old English: Breakan (to break) from the Proto-Germanic brekan.
- Middle English: Brekken (to break), reflecting the process of breaking or causing something to separate into pieces.
- Old English: Dūn (down), from Proto-Germanic dun (down), indicating direction or descent.
- Middle English: The combination break down emerged to describe the process of something being broken into smaller parts or failing.
- Early Modern English: The phrase began to encompass a range of meanings, including physical disintegration, mechanical failure, and metaphorical breakdowns in processes or systems.
In contemporary English, break down refers to various forms of disintegration or failure. It can describe the physical act of something falling apart, the malfunction of machinery, or a psychological or emotional collapse. The term retains its core meanings of disintegration and failure from its historical evolution through literal and metaphorical uses.
Synonyms
- Collapse
- Fail
- Disintegrate
- Deteriorate
- Decompose
- Malfunction
- Crumble
- Fragment
Antonyms
- Function
- Repair
- Stabilize
- Sustain
- Maintain
- Coalesce
- Build up
- Continue
Related
- Breakdown
- Failure
- Degradation
- Malfunction
- Disruption
- Rupture
- Analysis
- Decomposition
🌐 🇬🇧 BREAK DOWN in other languages
| Spanish 🇪🇸 | Destruir |
| French 🇫🇷 | Casser |
| German 🇩🇪 | Zusammenbrechen |
| Chinese (simpl) 🇨🇳 | 打破 |
| Chinese (trad) 🇨🇳 | 分解 |
| Italian 🇮🇹 | Crollo |
| Portuguese 🇵🇹 | Avalie |
| Dutch 🇳🇱 | Break Down |
| Swedish 🇸🇪 | Bryt ner |
| Norwegian 🇳🇴 | Bryt ned |
| Finnish 🇫🇮 | Hajoaa |
| Romanian 🇷🇴 | Dărâma |
| Polish 🇵🇱 | Rozbicie |
| Hungarian 🇭🇺 | Lebontani |
| Czech 🇨🇿 | Break Down |
| Bulgarian 🇧🇬 | Break Down |
| Ukrainian 🇺🇦 | Зламатися |
| Russian 🇷🇺 | Сломать |
| Turkish 🇹🇷 | Parçalamak |
| Azerbaijani 🇦🇿 | Dağılın |
| Armenian 🇦🇲 | Կոտրվել |
| Arabic 🇸🇦 | انهيار |
| Hebrew 🇮🇱 | להתפרק |
| Urdu 🇵🇰 | ٹوٹ جانا |
| Farsi/Persian 🇮🇷 | شکستن |
| Hindi 🇮🇳 | टूटना |
| Bengaleli/se 🇧🇩 | ব্রেক ডাউন |
| Marathi 🇮🇳 | ब्रेक डाउन |
| Telugu 🇮🇳 | బ్రేక్ డౌన్ |
| Tamil 🇮🇳 | பிரேக் டவுன் |
| Gujarati 🇮🇳 | બ્રેક ડાઉન |
| Kannada 🇮🇳 | ಒಡೆಯಿರಿ |
| Odia (Orya) 🇮🇳 | ଭାଙ୍ଗନ୍ତୁ | |
| Malayalam 🇮🇳 | ബ്രേക്ക് ഡൗൺ |
| Punjabi 🇮🇳 | ਟੁੱਟ ਜਾਣਾ |
| Sinhala/ese 🇱🇰 | බිඳ වැටීම |
| Nepali 🇳🇵 | ब्रेक डाउन |
| Burmese 🇲🇲 | ပျက်သည် |
| Thai 🇹🇭 | ทำลายล้าง |
| Vietnamese 🇻🇳 | Phá vỡ |
| Malay 🇲🇾 | Pecah |
| Indonesian 🇮🇩 | Menghancurkan |
| Tagalog 🇵🇭 | Break Down |
| Japanese 🇯🇵 | 打ち破る |
| Korean 🇰🇷 | 파괴 |
| Oromo 🇪🇹 | Caccabsuu |
| Somali 🇸🇴 | Jebi |
| Amharic 🇪🇹 | ሰበር |
| Swahili 🇹🇿 | Vunja |
| Yoruba 🇳🇬 | Ko ṣiṣẹ |