breaks down

Verb

break down (third-person singular simple present breaks down, present participle breaking down, simple past broke down, past participle broken down or (informal) broke down)

1. (intransitive, usually, vehicle) To stop functioning.
   • I am afraid my computer will break down if I try to run it at too high a speed.
2. (intransitive) To unexpectedly collapse, physically or in structure.
3. (transitive) To intentionally demolish; to pull down.
4. (intransitive) To fail, especially socially or for political reasons.
   • Talks broke down between Prime Minister John Doe and the opposition party.
5. (idiomatic, intransitive) To give in or give up: relent, concede, surrender.
   • Is it worth taking it to a repair shop, or should I just break down and buy a new one?
6. (ergative, figuratively) To render or to become unstable due to stress, to collapse physically or mentally.
   • Near-synonym: come undone

   Synonyms:

   come undone

See all 12 meanings of break down