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BREAK DOWN

(verb)
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Definitions

There are 8 meanings of the phrase Break Down.

Break Down - as a verb

Make ineffective

Example: "Martin luther king tried to break down racial discrimination"

Synonyms (Exact Relations)
crush10

Make a mathematical, chemical, or grammatical analysis of; break down into components or essential features

Example: "Analyze a specimen"

Synonyms (Exact Relations)
analyse10analyze19dissect10take apart
Hypernyms (Closely Related)
Hyponyms (Broadly Related)

Lose control of one's emotions

Example: "When she heard that she had not passed the exam, she lost it completely"

Synonyms (Exact Relations)
lose itsnap6
Hypernyms (Closely Related)
act5behave14do3
Hyponyms (Broadly Related)

Stop operating or functioning

Example: "The engine finally went"

Synonyms (Exact Relations)
break11conk outdie4fail7give outgive waygo3go bad
Hypernyms (Closely Related)
change12
Hyponyms (Broadly Related)

Fall apart

Example: "The building crumbled after the explosion"

Synonyms (Exact Relations)
collapse12crumble13crumple13tumble10

Cause to fall or collapse

Separate (substances) into constituent elements or parts

Synonyms (Exact Relations)
break updecompose16
Hypernyms (Closely Related)
separate10
Hyponyms (Broadly Related)

Collapse due to fatigue, an illness, or a sudden attack

Synonyms (Exact Relations)
collapse12
Hypernyms (Closely Related)
get4have10suffer12sustain7
Hyponyms (Broadly Related)

Example Sentences

"I had to break down the cardboard boxes before taking them to the recycling center."
"The students asked the teacher to break down the math problem step by step."
"I will break down the process into easy-to-follow instructions."
"The child started to break down when his favorite toy broke."
"She couldn't help but break down in tears after receiving the sad news."
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