breakdown

/ˈbreɪkdaʊn/ (bre, ipa) · [brˈekdˌaʊn] /ˈbreɪkdaʊn/ (ame, ipa) · [brˈekdˌaʊn] /ˈbrāk-ˌdau̇n/ (ame, mw)

breakdown — noun

  • breakdownsingular
  • breakdownsplural

1. a situation in which a machine, system, discussion, or relationship stops workin

1.名詞B2
釋義

a situation in which a machine, system, discussion, or relationship stops working properly or cannot continue

例句

Salma's car had a breakdown halfway up the mountain road.

have a breakdown for a vehicle

The sudden breakdown of talks delayed the peace deal again.

breakdown of talks

文法句型

have a breakdown

breakdown of + noun

用法筆記

Often follows of when you name the thing that failed, as in breakdown of talks or breakdown of trust. For vehicles and machines, have a breakdown is especially common.

常見錯誤

❌The printer breakdown during class.
✅The printer broke down during class.
💡breakdown is a noun; the verb form is break down.
❌My car was in breakdown on the bridge.
✅My car had a breakdown on the bridge.
💡use have a breakdown for a machine that stops working.

2. a list or explanation that separates information into parts so each part can be

2.名詞C1
釋義

a list or explanation that separates information into parts so each part can be examined clearly

例句

Ada gave us a breakdown of costs for each school event.

breakdown of costs

The report includes a breakdown by age and income group.

breakdown by + category

文法句型

breakdown of + figures

breakdown by + category

用法筆記

Usually follows of or by to name the categories being separated. This sense is about showing detail, unlike sense 5, which is about substances coming apart.

常見錯誤

❌Please send a breakdown about the costs.
✅Please send a breakdown of the costs.
💡breakdown usually takes of before the thing being analyzed.

3. a period when someone cannot manage ordinary life because of severe mental or em

3.名詞B2
釋義

a period when someone cannot manage ordinary life because of severe mental or emotional strain

例句

After months of stress, Manuela suffered a breakdown at work.

suffer a breakdown

Kevin took leave after his breakdown left him exhausted.

文法句型

suffer a breakdown

lead to a breakdown

用法筆記

Usually refers to a serious mental or emotional collapse, not an ordinary bad day. Common with have, suffer, and lead to.

常見錯誤

❌She breakdown after the interview.
✅She broke down after the interview.
💡use break down for the action and breakdown for the noun event.

4. in rugby, the brief contest for the ball that happens after a tackled player goe

4.名詞C2
釋義

in rugby, the brief contest for the ball that happens after a tackled player goes to ground

例句

Soraya stole the ball at the breakdown near the try line.

at the breakdown

The referee watched the breakdown closely for hands on the ground.

文法句型

at the breakdown

penalty at the breakdown

用法筆記

Used only in rugby. It names the short phase after a tackle when players fight to keep or win possession.

常見錯誤

❌The coach praised our breakdown play in football.
✅The coach praised our work at the breakdown in rugby.
💡this term belongs to rugby, not general football.

5. the process in which a substance is gradually changed into simpler parts

5.名詞C1
釋義

the process in which a substance is gradually changed into simpler parts

例句

Heat speeds the breakdown of plastic bottles in the sun.

breakdown of + substance

Scientists measured the breakdown of sugar during fermentation.

文法句型

breakdown of + substance

chemical breakdown

用法筆記

Often followed by of plus the substance being changed. Unlike sense 2, this sense describes a physical or chemical process, not a list of details.

常見錯誤

❌The breakdown of the budget took all afternoon.
✅The budget breakdown took all afternoon.
💡this sense is for substances coming apart, not for listing figures.