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Definition of Break down
1. Verb. Make ineffective. "Martin Luther King tried to break down racial discrimination"
2. Verb. Make a mathematical, chemical, or grammatical analysis of; break down into components or essential features. "Analyze a chemical compound"
Exact synonyms: Analyse, Analyze, Dissect, Take Apart
Specialized synonyms: Parse, Botanise, Botanize
Derivative terms: Analyser, Analyst, Analyzer, Breakdown, Dissection, Dissection
Antonyms: Synthesize
Specialized synonyms: Parse, Botanise, Botanize
Derivative terms: Analyser, Analyst, Analyzer, Breakdown, Dissection, Dissection
Antonyms: Synthesize
3. Verb. Lose control of one's emotions. "Sam and Sue break down"; "When her baby died, she snapped"
Exact synonyms: Lose It, Snap
Generic synonyms: Act, Behave, Do
Specialized synonyms: Dissolve, Die, Fall Apart, Go To Pieces
Derivative terms: Breakdown
Generic synonyms: Act, Behave, Do
Specialized synonyms: Dissolve, Die, Fall Apart, Go To Pieces
Derivative terms: Breakdown
4. Verb. Stop operating or functioning. "These cars won't break down "; "Her eyesight went after the accident"
Exact synonyms: Break, Conk Out, Die, Fail, Give Out, Give Way, Go, Go Bad
Generic synonyms: Change
Related verbs: Break, Buy The Farm, Cash In One's Chips, Choke, Conk, Croak, Decease, Die, Drop Dead, Exit, Expire, Give-up The Ghost, Go, Kick The Bucket, Pass, Pass Away, Perish, Pop Off, Snuff It
Specialized synonyms: Crash, Go Down, Blow, Blow Out, Burn Out, Misfire, Malfunction, Misfunction
Derivative terms: Breakable, Breakdown, Failure
Generic synonyms: Change
Related verbs: Break, Buy The Farm, Cash In One's Chips, Choke, Conk, Croak, Decease, Die, Drop Dead, Exit, Expire, Give-up The Ghost, Go, Kick The Bucket, Pass, Pass Away, Perish, Pop Off, Snuff It
Specialized synonyms: Crash, Go Down, Blow, Blow Out, Burn Out, Misfire, Malfunction, Misfunction
Derivative terms: Breakable, Breakdown, Failure
5. Verb. Fall apart. "The business is going to break down "; "Negotiations broke down"
6. Verb. Cause to fall or collapse. "They want to break down the doors"
7. Verb. Separate (substances) into constituent elements or parts.
Exact synonyms: Break Up, Decompose
Category relationships: Chemical Science, Chemistry
Specialized synonyms: Digest, Dissociate, Crack
Generic synonyms: Separate
Derivative terms: Decomposition
Category relationships: Chemical Science, Chemistry
Specialized synonyms: Digest, Dissociate, Crack
Generic synonyms: Separate
Derivative terms: Decomposition
8. Verb. Collapse due to fatigue, an illness, or a sudden attack. "Sam and Sue break down"
Exact synonyms: Collapse
Specialized synonyms: Drop Like Flies, Fall Over, Go Over
Generic synonyms: Get, Have, Suffer, Sustain
Derivative terms: Breakdown, Collapse
Specialized synonyms: Drop Like Flies, Fall Over, Go Over
Generic synonyms: Get, Have, Suffer, Sustain
Derivative terms: Breakdown, Collapse
Definition of Break down
1. Noun. (alternative form of breakdown) ¹
2. Verb. (intransitive) to fail, to cease to function ¹
3. Verb. (ergative figuratively) to render or to become unstable due to stress, to collapse physically or mentally ¹
4. Verb. (ergative figuratively) to render or to become weak and ineffective ¹
5. Verb. (ergative) (to cause) to decay, to decompose ¹
6. Verb. (ergative figuratively) to divide into parts to give more details, to provide a more indepth analysis of ¹
7. Verb. (ergative) to digest ¹
¹ Source: wiktionary.com
Lexicographical Neighbors of Break Down
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