breakdown

/ˈbreɪkˌdaʊn/
noun
  1. A failure of a machine or vehicle to work properly.
    • The factory had to stop production after a breakdown of the main conveyor belt.
    • Our car had a breakdown on the highway, so we called for a tow truck.
    • A sudden breakdown of the elevator left us stuck between floors for an hour.
  2. A detailed analysis or explanation of something, often showing its parts.
    • I need a breakdown of the costs before I can approve the budget.
    • The report includes a breakdown of sales by region and product.
    • The teacher gave us a breakdown of the test scores by subject.
  3. A sudden loss of mental or emotional health; a collapse.
    • After months of stress, she suffered a nervous breakdown and had to take time off work.
    • The therapist helped him recover from his emotional breakdown.
    • He had a breakdown when he couldn't handle the pressure of the competition.
  4. The process of something decomposing or separating into parts.
    • The breakdown of food in the stomach is helped by digestive enzymes.
    • Plastic takes hundreds of years to undergo natural breakdown in the environment.
    • The breakdown of the chemical compound releases energy.
What does "breakdown" mean? | whatsthatwordmean | whatsthatwordmean