break down

See also breakdown, and break-down

English [edit]

break down (plural break downs)

break down (third-person singular simple present breaks down, present participle breaking down, simple past broke down, past participle broke down, broken down or (informal) broke down)

(intransitive) to fail, to cease to function

I am afraid my computer will break down if I try to run it at too high a speed.
(ergative, figuratively) to render or to become unstable due to stress, to collapse physically or mentally

She is back to work now, after she broke down the other day.
(ergative, figuratively) to render or to become weak and ineffective

His authority and influence over his coordinates broke down gradually.
- 2012 June 2, Phil McNulty, “England 1-0 Belgium”, BBC Sport:
  
  Hodgson's approach may not illuminate proceedings in Poland and Ukraine but early evidence suggests they will be tough to break down.
(ergative) (to cause) to decay, to decompose

Leaves and grass will break down into compost faster if you keep them moist.
(ergative, figuratively) to divide into parts to give more details, to provide a more indepth analysis of

If you don't understand, ask him to break down the numbers for you.
(ergative) to digest

His stomach took a while to break down his food.