BREAK DOWN


Meaning of BREAK DOWN in English

1.

( of a machine or vehicle ) to stop working because of a fault :

The telephone system has broken down.

We (= the car) broke down on the freeway.

—related noun breakdown

2.

to fail :

Negotiations between the two sides have broken down.

—related noun breakdown

3.

to become very bad :

Her health broke down under the pressure of work.

—see also nervous breakdown

4.

to lose control of your feelings and start crying :

He broke down and wept when he heard the news.

5.

to divide into parts to be analysed :

Expenditure on the project breaks down as follows: wages $10m, plant $4m, raw materials $5m.

—related noun breakdown

Oxford Advanced Learner's English Dictionary.      Оксфордский английский словарь для изучающик язык на продвинутом уровне.