Breakdown
noun
A failure to function or work properly.
The car had a breakdown on the highway
Often appears as...
- mechanical breakdown
- emotional breakdown
noun
A detailed analysis or report.
He provided a breakdown of the company's expenses
Often appears as...
- cost breakdown
- price breakdown
noun
A sudden collapse in someone's mental health.
He had a breakdown after his wife left him
Often appears as...
- nervous breakdown
- emotional breakdown
noun
The decomposition of a substance into simpler molecules.
The breakdown of water into hydrogen and oxygen
Often appears as...
- chemical breakdown
- thermal breakdown
Usage tips
Technical
noun
A failure to function or work properly.
The car had a breakdown on the highway
Often appears as...
- mechanical breakdown
- emotional breakdown
noun
A detailed analysis or report.
He provided a breakdown of the company's expenses
Often appears as...
- cost breakdown
- price breakdown
noun
A sudden collapse in someone's mental health.
He had a breakdown after his wife left him
Often appears as...
- nervous breakdown
- emotional breakdown
noun
The decomposition of a substance into simpler molecules.
The breakdown of water into hydrogen and oxygen
Often appears as...
- chemical breakdown
- thermal breakdown
Usage tips
Technical
Definition 1 of 4
Pro Tip 1/3Unexpected events
A breakdown often refers to sudden or unpredicted failures, not gradual ones.
The printer's breakdown caught us off-guard during the project.
Pro Tip 2/3Emergency situations
The word 'breakdown' can imply a need for urgent action, like repairs.
We need a mechanic for a breakdown now.
Pro Tip 3/3Metaphorical use
Breakdown can metaphorically describe the failure of plans or discussions.
There was a breakdown in negotiations between the parties.
Pro Tip 1/3Unexpected events
A breakdown often refers to sudden or unpredicted failures, not gradual ones.
The printer's breakdown caught us off-guard during the project.
Pro Tip 2/3Emergency situations
The word 'breakdown' can imply a need for urgent action, like repairs.
We need a mechanic for a breakdown now.
Pro Tip 3/3Metaphorical use
Breakdown can metaphorically describe the failure of plans or discussions.
There was a breakdown in negotiations between the parties.
Pro Tip 1/3Unexpected events
A breakdown often refers to sudden or unpredicted failures, not gradual ones.
The printer's breakdown caught us off-guard during the project.
Pro Tip 2/3Emergency situations
The word 'breakdown' can imply a need for urgent action, like repairs.
We need a mechanic for a breakdown now.
Pro Tip 3/3Metaphorical use
Breakdown can metaphorically describe the failure of plans or discussions.
There was a breakdown in negotiations between the parties.
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Video examples
How do steroids affect...
a signaling molecule that drives the breakdown of substances including proteins. Finally, they may push the development of muscle, rather than fat, and boost our metabolism, shrinking fat deposits. These properties make steroids valuable for treating many illnesses and injuries.
Video examples
What makes tattoos...
by the immune system's macrophages. Ultraviolet radiation can also contribute to this pigment breakdown, though it can be mitigated by the use of sunblock. But since the dermal cells are relatively stable, much of the ink will remain deep in the skin for a person's whole life.
Video examples
How does alcohol make...
Endorphins help us to calm down in response to stress or danger. Elevated levels of endorphins contribute to the euphoria and relaxation associated with alcohol consumption. Finally, as the liver’s breakdown of alcohol outpaces the brain’s absorption, drunkenness fades away.
Video examples
What will change Africa?...
yeah so we we're very confused we had we thought we're market leaders we're innovators we're gonna an got this tropical tolerance thing going we're building software that can survive in the price is good and communication breakdowns it can handle past failures
Video examples
Is DNA the future of...
in your own backyard, and its seeds might carry your family's history, a detailed breakdown of the world's political upheavals, or the sum of humanity's knowledge into forests and across continents. Perhaps even into the far reaches of space.
Video examples
What's so funny about...
My mental illness -- well, I'm not even going to talk about my mental illness. What am I going to talk about? Okay. I always dreamt that, when I had my final breakdown, it would be because I had a deep Kafkaesque existentialist revelation,
Video examples
Listening to shame PIPE...
that I became a researcher to avoid vulnerability. And that when being vulnerable emerged from my data, as absolutely essential to whole-hearted living, I told these 500 people that I had a breakdown. I had a slide that said 'Breakdown.'
Video examples
What coronavirus means...
is running by dollars, and what you have, traditionally, is the breakdown. And then the fourth influence is politics. And politics is largely how we deal with each other. And there's internal politics, and there's external politics.
Video examples
A healthy economy should...
And yet, we've already overshot at least four of these planetary boundaries, risking irreversible impact of climate breakdown and ecosystem collapse. This is the state of humanity and our planetary home.
Video examples
Andrea Ghez’s Black Hole...
escape not even light we don't have the physics to describe what a black hole is because it leads to a paradox a breakdown in our understanding of how the universe works
Video examples
How do steroids affect...
a signaling molecule that drives the breakdown of substances including proteins. Finally, they may push the development of muscle, rather than fat, and boost our metabolism, shrinking fat deposits. These properties make steroids valuable for treating many illnesses and injuries.
Video examples
What makes tattoos...
by the immune system's macrophages. Ultraviolet radiation can also contribute to this pigment breakdown, though it can be mitigated by the use of sunblock. But since the dermal cells are relatively stable, much of the ink will remain deep in the skin for a person's whole life.
Video examples
How does alcohol make...
Endorphins help us to calm down in response to stress or danger. Elevated levels of endorphins contribute to the euphoria and relaxation associated with alcohol consumption. Finally, as the liver’s breakdown of alcohol outpaces the brain’s absorption, drunkenness fades away.
Video examples
What will change Africa?...
yeah so we we're very confused we had we thought we're market leaders we're innovators we're gonna an got this tropical tolerance thing going we're building software that can survive in the price is good and communication breakdowns it can handle past failures
Video examples
Is DNA the future of...
in your own backyard, and its seeds might carry your family's history, a detailed breakdown of the world's political upheavals, or the sum of humanity's knowledge into forests and across continents. Perhaps even into the far reaches of space.
Video examples
What's so funny about...
My mental illness -- well, I'm not even going to talk about my mental illness. What am I going to talk about? Okay. I always dreamt that, when I had my final breakdown, it would be because I had a deep Kafkaesque existentialist revelation,
Video examples
Listening to shame PIPE...
that I became a researcher to avoid vulnerability. And that when being vulnerable emerged from my data, as absolutely essential to whole-hearted living, I told these 500 people that I had a breakdown. I had a slide that said 'Breakdown.'
Video examples
What coronavirus means...
is running by dollars, and what you have, traditionally, is the breakdown. And then the fourth influence is politics. And politics is largely how we deal with each other. And there's internal politics, and there's external politics.
Video examples
A healthy economy should...
And yet, we've already overshot at least four of these planetary boundaries, risking irreversible impact of climate breakdown and ecosystem collapse. This is the state of humanity and our planetary home.
Video examples
Andrea Ghez’s Black Hole...
escape not even light we don't have the physics to describe what a black hole is because it leads to a paradox a breakdown in our understanding of how the universe works
Example 1 of 10
Quote examples
Judd Apatow
American Director
My way of dealing with the world has always been to make fun of it and observe it but not take part in it. That's how I became a writer. But when you have kids, suddenly you have to be part of things. It leads almost to a breakdown because your whole defense mechanism is now really destructive.
Quote examples
Iain Duncan Smith
British Politician
When families are strong and stable, so are children - showing higher levels of wellbeing and more positive outcomes. But when things go wrong - either through family breakdown or a damaged parental relationship - the impact on a child's later life can be devastating.
Quote examples
Mandip Gill
English Actress
No, I went through a process just like I would any other job in which my agent received the breakdown for 'Doctor Who' and I went for my audition. In the original audition, it said you can bring as much to the character, we're looking for what the actor can bring.
Quote examples
James Hillman
American Psychologist
I'm in favor of destruction, aggression, hating things. Not bearing things anymore. We think the breakdown comes because our life is in bad shape. But maybe the ideas cause the disorder. Something tries to break through and causes the disorder.
Quote examples
Nancy Pearcey
American Author
The costs of marriage breakdown are borne by the entire society, and therefore it is reasonable for the entire society to demand support for marriage - to insist that it is privileged both culturally and legally.
Quote examples
John Hewson
Australian Politician
I was just absolutely exhausted. The media said I've been treated for a nervous breakdown. All that stuff I just took as people taking the opportunity when you're down to give you a kick.
Quote examples
Iyanla Vanzant
American Author
What will support any relationship is clear, complete and conscious conversations when upsets or breakdowns occur.
Quote examples
Bertrand Russell
British Philosopher
One of the symptoms of an approaching nervous breakdown is the belief that one's work is terribly important.
Quote examples
Nicholas Stoller
English Director
The two times I had nervous breakdowns in my life were when I graduated from college and had my first kid.
Quote examples
Randall Park
American Actor
If a casting breakdown said 'All-American Type' or 'Lead Role,' I knew they weren't thinking of me.
Quote examples
Judd Apatow
American Director
My way of dealing with the world has always been to make fun of it and observe it but not take part in it. That's how I became a writer. But when you have kids, suddenly you have to be part of things. It leads almost to a breakdown because your whole defense mechanism is now really destructive.
Quote examples
Iain Duncan Smith
British Politician
When families are strong and stable, so are children - showing higher levels of wellbeing and more positive outcomes. But when things go wrong - either through family breakdown or a damaged parental relationship - the impact on a child's later life can be devastating.
Quote examples
Mandip Gill
English Actress
No, I went through a process just like I would any other job in which my agent received the breakdown for 'Doctor Who' and I went for my audition. In the original audition, it said you can bring as much to the character, we're looking for what the actor can bring.
Quote examples
James Hillman
American Psychologist
I'm in favor of destruction, aggression, hating things. Not bearing things anymore. We think the breakdown comes because our life is in bad shape. But maybe the ideas cause the disorder. Something tries to break through and causes the disorder.
Quote examples
Nancy Pearcey
American Author
The costs of marriage breakdown are borne by the entire society, and therefore it is reasonable for the entire society to demand support for marriage - to insist that it is privileged both culturally and legally.
Quote examples
John Hewson
Australian Politician
I was just absolutely exhausted. The media said I've been treated for a nervous breakdown. All that stuff I just took as people taking the opportunity when you're down to give you a kick.
Quote examples
Iyanla Vanzant
American Author
What will support any relationship is clear, complete and conscious conversations when upsets or breakdowns occur.
Quote examples
Bertrand Russell
British Philosopher
One of the symptoms of an approaching nervous breakdown is the belief that one's work is terribly important.
Quote examples
Nicholas Stoller
English Director
The two times I had nervous breakdowns in my life were when I graduated from college and had my first kid.
Quote examples
Randall Park
American Actor
If a casting breakdown said 'All-American Type' or 'Lead Role,' I knew they weren't thinking of me.
Example 1 of 10
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