break ‧ down /ˈbreɪkdaʊn/ BrE AmE noun
1 . [uncountable and countable] the failure of a relationship or system
breakdown of
He moved away after the breakdown of his marriage.
A sudden rise in oil prices could lead to a breakdown of the economy.
breakdown in
There has been a serious breakdown in relations between the two countries.
marriage/marital/family breakdown
Family breakdown can lead to behavioural problems in children.
2 . [countable] a serious medical condition in which someone becomes mentally ill and is unable to work or deal with ordinary situations in life:
I was worried he might have a breakdown if he carried on working so hard.
Two years ago he suffered a mental breakdown.
She had already had one nervous breakdown.
3 . [countable] an occasion when a car or a piece of machinery breaks and stops working:
Always carry a phone with you in case you have a breakdown on the motorway.
breakdown in
a breakdown in the cooling system
4 . [countable] a list of all the separate parts of something
breakdown of
Can you give us a breakdown of the figures?
5 . [singular] the changing of a substance into other substances:
the breakdown of glucose in the body to release energy
⇨ break down at ↑ break 1
• • •
COLLOCATIONS
■ ADJECTIVES/NOUN + breakdown
▪ marriage/marital breakdown
problems caused by the increase in marital breakdown
▪ family breakdown
A growing proportion of children are affected by family breakdown.
▪ communication breakdown (=when people do not talk or are unable to talk)
The misunderstanding was the result of a communication breakdown.
▪ complete/total breakdown
The disagreement finally led to a complete breakdown of their relationship.
▪ irretrievable breakdown formal (=one that is impossible to put right again)
The irretrievable breakdown of a marriage may be grounds for divorce.
■ verbs
▪ cause/lead to a breakdown
Money problems often cause marriage breakdown.