BREAKDOWN

n. 1 collapse, downfall, failure, foundering; destruction, ruin There was a breakdown of our computer system The arbitrators blamed a breakdown of communication between union and management. 2 (mental) collapse, nervous breakdown, Colloq crack-up She had a bad breakdown after her daughter was killed 3 analysis, run-down, detailing, review; decomposition, itemization, classification, dissection, distillation, fractionation I want a breakdown of these figures by noon The chemical breakdown of the substance indicated the presence of arsenic.