breakdown

B2 Topic:Tools, Machines & Construction

Also spelled break-down

US /ˈbɹeɪkˌdaʊn/ UK /ˈbɹeɪkdaʊn/ See IPA manual

Freq #6748

Meanings

1

noun
A failure of a machine or system to keep working.

The bus was late because of a breakdown on the motorway.
2

noun
A period of severe mental or emotional illness that stops you living normally.

After months of stress, she had a breakdown and took a long break from work.
3

noun
A detailed division of something into its separate parts.

The report gives a clear breakdown of how the money was spent.
4

noun
The collapse or failure of a relationship or system.

A breakdown in communication caused the whole project to fail.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 noun · a failure of a machine or... equipment failure

Word family

Forms breakdowns

Related forms meltdown

Appears in

Phrases (1)

See all

nervous breakdown
an informal term for a period of severe emotional distress that disrupts ordinary functioning

Adjective + noun

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *bʰreg-der. Proto-Germanic *brekaną Proto-West Germanic *brekan Old English brecan Middle English breken English break Old English of- Proto-Germanic *dūnaz? Proto-Celtic *dūnomder.? Proto-West Germanic *dūnā Old English dūne Old English ofdūne Old English adūne Old English dūne Middle English doun English down English break downdeverb. English breakdown Deverbal from break down.

Topics

Tools, Machines & Construction

External links

# breakdown

**Type:** Word
**Level:** B2
**Part of speech:** noun
**IPA (US):** /ˈbɹeɪkˌdaʊn/
**IPA (UK):** /ˈbɹeɪkdaʊn/
**Frequency rank:** 6748

## Meanings
1. A failure of a machine or system to keep working.
2. A period of severe mental or emotional illness that stops you living normally.
3. A detailed division of something into its separate parts.
4. The collapse or failure of a relationship or system.

## Examples
- The bus was late because of a breakdown on the motorway.
- After months of stress, she had a breakdown and took a long break from work.
- The report gives a clear breakdown of how the money was spent.
- A breakdown in communication caused the whole project to fail.

## Related Forms
- meltdown

## Etymology
Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *bʰreg-der. Proto-Germanic *brekaną Proto-West Germanic *brekan Old English brecan Middle English breken English break Old English of- Proto-Germanic *dūnaz? Proto-Celtic *dūnomder.? Proto-West Germanic *dūnā Old English dūne Old English ofdūne Old English adūne Old English dūne Middle English doun English down English break downdeverb. English breakdown Deverbal from break down.

## AI Etymology
Breakdown is a deverbal formation from break down. Breakdown's historical chain begins with Proto-Indo-European *bʰreg- and Proto-Germanic *brekaną and later passes through Old English adūne, Middle English doun, English down, English break down, English breakdown.

## Topics
- Tools, Machines & Construction

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