Main Entry: break down

Function: verb

Date: 14th century

transitive verb

1 a : to cause to fall or collapse by breaking or shattering b : to make ineffective <break down legal barriers>
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 <negotiations broke down> c : to fail in strength or vitality <her health broke down> d : to succumb to mental or emotional stress <broke down and cried> e : to lose one's resolve : give in <finally broke down and bought a computer>
2 of horses : to severely injure the supporting ligament or bones of the fetlock joint
3 a : to be susceptible to or undergo analysis or subdivision <the statistics break down like this> b : to undergo decomposition

synonyms see analyze