breakdown
B2Neutral (used across formal, informal, and technical contexts)
Definition
Meaning
A failure of a system, machine, or relationship, or a detailed analysis/list.
Can refer to a collapse in mental health, a musical style, a type of dance, or the division of costs/figures.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The word spans a spectrum from catastrophic failure (nervous breakdown) to neutral, useful analysis (cost breakdown). Context is crucial for interpretation.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Minimal. 'Breakdown lorry' (UK) vs. 'tow truck' or 'wrecker' (US). 'Breakdown' for a list/analysis is equally common in both.
Connotations
Similar. Both use it for mechanical failure, mental collapse, and analysis.
Frequency
Comparably high frequency in both varieties.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
breakdown in [communication/negotiations]breakdown of [trust/law and order/the figures]have a breakdownlead to a breakdownVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “A breakdown in communication”
- “On the brink of a nervous breakdown”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
A detailed financial breakdown of quarterly expenses is required.
Academic
The paper includes a breakdown of participant demographics.
Everyday
Our car had a breakdown on the motorway.
Technical
The engineer diagnosed a catastrophic breakdown in the cooling system.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The car might break down in this cold.
- She began to break down when telling the story.
American English
- Negotiations broke down over the budget.
- Can you break down these results for the report?
adverb
British English
- This data needs to be analysed break down by region. (Rare as a single-word adverb)
American English
- (Not typically used as a standalone adverb)
adjective
British English
- We pulled into the breakdown lane.
- He called the breakdown recovery service.
American English
- Use the breakdown lane for emergencies only.
- Their breakdown coverage includes towing.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The bus had a breakdown.
- Here is a breakdown of your bill.
- A breakdown in communication caused the argument.
- We need a cost breakdown before the meeting.
- The stress led to a complete mental and physical breakdown.
- The statistical breakdown revealed interesting trends.
- The diplomatic talks culminated in a irretrievable breakdown, leading to sanctions.
- A granular breakdown of the genome sequence was published in the journal.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a car that BREAKS DOWN on the road. It stops working (failure). To fix it, you need a mechanic to break down the problem into parts (analysis).
Conceptual Metaphor
FUNCTIONING IS STANDING/WHOLE, FAILURE IS FALLING/COMING APART (e.g., 'breakdown', 'collapse', 'fall apart').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid translating 'breakdown' as 'распад' for all contexts. 'Распад' is closer to 'disintegration' (e.g., of a state). For a car, use 'поломка'. For analysis, use 'разбивка' or 'детальный анализ'. For mental health, 'нервный срыв'.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'breakdown' as a verb (the verb is 'break down'). Confusing 'breakdown' (noun) with 'breakdown' (adjective, as in 'breakdown lane').
Practice
Quiz
In which sentence is 'breakdown' used to mean a 'detailed list/analysis'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, 'breakdown' is a noun. The verb form is the phrasal verb 'break down' (two words).
They are near opposites. A 'breakdown' is a failure or collapse. A 'breakthrough' is an important success or discovery after effort.
Yes, when it means a helpful analysis or categorization (e.g., 'a helpful breakdown of the data'). The failure meanings are negative.
You can say 'car breakdown,' but more specific terms are 'car trouble' or 'mechanical failure.' The event is 'breaking down.'
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