/ ˈbreɪkdaʊn; NAmE / noun
1.
[ C ] an occasion when a vehicle or machine stops working :
a breakdown on the motorway
a breakdown recovery service
2.
[ C , U ] a failure of a relationship, discussion or system :
the breakdown of a marriage
marriage breakdown
a breakdown in communications
The breakdown of the negotiations was not unexpected.
the breakdown of law and order
3.
[ C , usually sing. ] detailed information that you get by studying a set of figures :
First, let's look at a breakdown of the costs.
4.
[ U ] ( technical ) the breaking of a substance into the parts of which it is made :
the breakdown of proteins in the digestive system
5.
[ C ] = nervous breakdown :
She's still recovering from her breakdown.