break down

phrasal verb

Word Forms

present tense
I/you/we/they	break down
he/she/it	breaks down
present participle	breaking down
past tense	broke down
past participle	broken down

1
intransitive if a machine or vehicle breaks down, it stops working
The car broke down just outside Winchester.
Synonyms and related words
To stop working (of a piece of equipment)
break down
go off
shut off
Synonyms and related words
Vehicle accidents and breakdowns
accident
aquaplane
bang up
2
transitive to divide something such as a total amount into separate parts
The amount doesn’t seem quite so bad when you break it down into monthly payments.
Synonyms and related words
To separate an object or area into parts
take apart
take down
divide
1. 2a
  intransitive/transitive if a substance breaks down or is broken down into parts, it separates into the parts that it is made up of
  The substance is easily broken down by bacteria.
  Synonyms and related words
  To change consistency - general words
  atomise
  atomize
  bake
3
intransitive if a relationship or discussion breaks down, it stops being successful
At one point, the talks broke down completely.
Synonyms and related words
To fail, or to stop being successful
fail
founder
languish
Synonyms and related words
To end a friendship or relationship
defriend
unfriend
break off
4
intransitive to start crying, especially in public
People broke down and wept when they heard the news.
Synonyms and related words
To cry, or to start crying
cry
burst out
dissolve into
5
transitive to hit something such as a door or wall very hard so that it falls down
Firefighters had to break down the door to get into the flat.
Synonyms and related words
To hit an object
punch
thump
knock
6
transitive to remove a difficulty that prevents something from happening
The aim of the agreement is to break down barriers to trade.
Synonyms and related words
To successfully deal with a problem or difficulty
cope
overcome
carry off
7
to explain something step by step
Let me break it down for you.
Submitted by:
Fatima from Libyan Arab Jamahiriya on 07/06/2017
Open Dictionary - June2017