break down

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verb

Definition of BREAK DOWN

1

to arrange or assign according to type <when presented with the pile of files, the first thing he did was to break them down by month, order within the month, and region>

Synonyms assort, break down, categorize, class, codify, compartment, compartmentalize, digest, distinguish, distribute, grade, group, peg, place, range, rank, relegate, separate, sort, type

Related Words array, dispose, draw up, marshal (also marshall), order, organize, systematize; alphabetize, catalog (or catalogue), file, index, list, refer; pigeonhole, shelve; identify, recognize; cull, screen, set, sieve, sift, winnow; clump, cluster, colligate; recategorize, reclassify, regroup; subcategorize

Near Antonyms confuse, disarrange, jumble, lump, mix (up), scramble; misclassify, missort, mistype

2

to go through decomposition <the enamel of a human tooth will begin to break down when exposed to sugar for too long>

Synonyms break down, corrupt, decompose, disintegrate, fester, foul, mold, molder, perish [chiefly British], putrefy, rot, spoil

Related Words sour, turn, turn off [British]; contaminate, defile, pollute, taint; addle, curdle, ferment; mortify; rust; crumble, decline, degenerate, descend, deteriorate, dilapidate, sink, wither

Near Antonyms age, develop, grow, mature, ripen; refresh, renew, restore; cleanse, purify; assemble, compose, integrate; ameliorate, better, improve, meliorate

3

to identify and examine the basic elements or parts of (something) especially for discovering interrelationships <if we break the problem down into what appear to be three aspects of it, we'll have a better chance of solving it>

Synonyms anatomize, assay, break down, cut, deconstruct, dissect

Related Words assess, diagnose, evaluate, examine, inspect, investigate, scrutinize; arrange, assort, catalog (or catalogue), categorize, classify, codify, diagram, enumerate, index, order, schematize, sort, tabulate; divide, reduce, segment, separate, subdivide

Near Antonyms agglomerate, aggregate, amalgamate, assimilate, coalesce, conglomerate, consolidate, integrate, synthesize, unify

4

to stop functioning <the computer finally broke down and had to be replaced>

Synonyms break, break down, conk (out), crash, cut out, die, give out, stall

Related Words fizzle, sputter, wheeze; act up, malfunction; jam

Antonyms start (up)

5

to yield to mental or emotional stress <began to break down when he realized that he was on the verge of bankruptcy>

Synonyms break down, break up, flip (out) [slang], freak (out), melt down, wig (out) [slang]

Related Words choke

6

to take apart <the crew was breaking down the party tent when we arrived>

Synonyms break down, demount, dismantle, dismember, dismount, knock down, strike, take down

Related Words detach, disengage; break up, disaggregate, disarticulate, disconnect, disjoin, disjoint, dissever, disunite, divide, separate

Near Antonyms build, erect, pitch; combine, unite

Antonyms assemble, construct

7

to cause to break with violence and much noise <firefighters had to break down the wall to rescue the kitten>

Synonyms break down, crash, shatter

Related Words bust, fracture, fragment; annihilate, bash, decimate, demolish, desolate, destroy, devastate, nuke, pulverize, ruin, tear down, total, vaporize, waste, wrack, wreck; shiver, splinter, split; crack, crunch, crush, snap