transitive verb
1.
a. : to cause to fall or collapse by breaking or shattering : batter down : destroy
breaking down the door
b. : to wear down into a defective or useless condition by attrition
c. : to bring about loss of force or effectiveness of : make ineffective : impair , dispel
breaking down the old legal codes
2.
a. : to separate (as a chemical compound) into simpler substances : decompose
b. : to take apart especially for storage or shipment and for later reassembling
a machine that can be broken down quickly and transported by plane
c.
(1) : to reduce (a log) to a convenient size for sawing in the mill
(2) : to saw (a log) into cants
3.
a. : to tone down : qualify
break down a color
b. : to make (rubber) plastic : soften , masticate
4. : to stop (a sawmill or machine) because of an accident
intransitive verb
1.
a. : to become inoperative through breakage or wear : lose ability to operate or function
the old truck broke down on the hill
b. : to become inapplicable or ineffective
the governor fled, royal authority broke down — American Guide Series: North Carolina
under critical analysis almost all distinctions previously made tended to break down
2.
a. : to be susceptible to analysis or subdivision : to be readily analyzed
the chronicle breaks down into three large parts — Mark Schorer
b. : to undergo decomposition
the old highly folded rocks have been breaking down gradually into soil — L.D.Stamp
Synonyms: see analyze