breakdown
breakdown — noun
1. a situation where a machine, system, plan, discussion, or relationship stops wor
a situation where a machine, system, plan, discussion, or relationship stops working properly or cannot continue successfully.
An engine breakdown left Priya's bus blocking the bridge at dawn.
compound noun: gearbox breakdown
After weeks of shouting, the breakdown in talks at city hall was obvious.
breakdown in + activity noun
The website's breakdown during ticket sales angered thousands of fans.
After the missing cash turned up, there was a complete breakdown of trust.
By Friday, a communication breakdown between nurses delayed three patients' tests.
- failure
broader; can describe any lack of success, not only something stopping mid-process
- collapse
stronger; suggests a sudden and often complete end
- malfunction
mainly for machines or equipment, not talks or relationships
- disruption
often temporary; does not always mean total failure
- recovery
a return to normal working order after trouble
文法句型
breakdown in + noun
breakdown of + noun
用法筆記
Often followed by 'in' when naming the area that failed ('a breakdown in communication') and by 'of' when naming what collapsed ('a breakdown of trust'). For vehicles and machines, speakers often add a specific noun before it, such as 'engine breakdown' or 'brake breakdown'.
常見錯誤
2. a list or explanation that separates a total into smaller groups or amounts so t
a list or explanation that separates a total into smaller groups or amounts so that each part can be seen clearly.
The finance team sent Omar a breakdown of travel costs by city.
breakdown of + costs/data
On the last slide, the age breakdown showed most visitors were children.
compound noun: age breakdown
Could you give us a monthly breakdown of water use in each building?
The report includes a breakdown by department, from sales to customer service.
Even a simple budget breakdown made the festival's losses obvious.
- itemization
stresses listing each separate item one by one
- analysis
broader; can include explanation and judgement, not only dividing into parts
- summary
more general; may stay brief and not separate all the parts
- split
informal; often used for proportions or how money is shared
- total
shows the combined amount without separating the parts
文法句型
breakdown of + amount/data
breakdown by + category
用法筆記
Common after 'of' or 'by' when numbers are sorted into parts, as in 'a breakdown of costs' or 'a breakdown by age'. Distinguish from sense 5: here the result is a table, list, or explanation, not a substance changing physically.
常見錯誤
3. a period when someone becomes so mentally or physically exhausted that they cann
a period when someone becomes so mentally or physically exhausted that they cannot manage ordinary life or work.
After months of night shifts, the junior doctor had a breakdown.
have a breakdown
After her breakdown last winter, Leila took three months away from work.
The film shows a singer's breakdown during a long tour overseas.
Without help, constant stress pushed the night nurse toward a serious breakdown.
By August, even small errands felt impossible after Yusuf's breakdown.
- recovery
the period of becoming stable and well again
文法句型
have a breakdown
nervous/mental/emotional breakdown
用法筆記
Most often used with 'have' or 'suffer', and with adjectives such as 'nervous', 'mental', and 'emotional'. Distinguish from sense 1: this sense is about a person's condition, not a machine or system failing.
常見錯誤
4. a short phase after a tackle when players from both teams try to win the ball on
a short phase after a tackle when players from both teams try to win the ball on the ground.
At the breakdown, Hana kept the ball safe until two teammates reached her.
at the breakdown
The referee blew his whistle when two players entered the breakdown from the side.
enter the breakdown
Quick passes at the breakdown gave the home team an easy try.
In heavy rain, coaches want two extra players around every breakdown.
文法句型
at the breakdown
enter the breakdown
用法筆記
Rugby-only. Common with 'at' or 'around', and with verbs like 'enter', 'win', and 'slow'. It is not used for football or other team sports.
常見錯誤
5. the process in which a substance changes into smaller parts or simpler materials
the process in which a substance changes into smaller parts or simpler materials because of heat, chemicals, or natural action.
Warm weather speeds the breakdown of food waste in the garden bin.
breakdown of + substance
Scientists studied the breakdown of plastic bags in sea water.
Sunlight can start the breakdown of paint on old window frames.
Workers added air to speed the breakdown of oil in the tank.
- decomposition
more technical and often used in science
- decay
common for slow natural damage, especially in plants or food
- disintegration
stresses falling apart into pieces
- formation
the process of being made or built up
文法句型
breakdown of + substance
用法筆記
Usually followed by 'of' plus the substance, as in 'the breakdown of leaves' or 'the breakdown of oil'. Distinguish from sense 2: sense 5 describes a physical change in the material itself, not a list of its parts.