Breakdowns

break downfunction: verb date: 14th centurytransitive verb 1 a : to cause to fall or collapse by breaking or shattering b : to make ineffective lt;break down legal barriersgt;2 a : to divide into parts or categories b : to separate (as a chemical compound) into simpler substances : decompose c : to take apart especially for storage or shipment and for later reassemblingintransitive verb 1 a : to stop functioning because of breakage or wear b : to become inoperative or ineffective : fail lt;negotiations broke downgt; c : to fail in strength or vitality lt;her health broke downgt; d : to succumb to mental or emotional stress lt;broke down and criedgt; e : to lose one's resolve : give in lt;finally broke down and bought a computergt;2 of horses : to severely injure the supporting ligament or bones of the fetlock joint3 a : to be susceptible to or undergo analysis or subdivision lt;the statistics break down like thisgt; b : to undergo decompositionsynonyms see analyze