breakdown
breakdown /ˈbreɪkˌdaʊn/ noun
plural breakdowns
breakdown
/ˈbreɪkˌdaʊn/
noun
plural breakdowns
Learner's definition of BREAKDOWN
1
: a failure of a machine to function : an occurrence in which a machine (such as a car) stops working（机器的）损坏，故障
[count]
- We had a breakdown on the highway. [=our car broke down on the highway; our car stopped working on the highway]我们的车在公路上抛锚了。
- The factory has had frequent equipment breakdowns.这家工厂的设备故障频出。
[noncount]
- Frequent equipment breakdown [=(more commonly) failure] has been a problem at the factory.设备故障频出一直是这家工厂面临的难题。
2
a [count] : the failure of a relationship or of an effort to discuss something（关系的）破裂；（商讨的）失败
- There has been a breakdown of/in negotiations. [=negotiations have broken down; negotiations have failed]谈判已经破裂。
- Both sides are to blame for the breakdown in communication.沟通失败，双方都有责任。
- The irretrievable breakdown of a marriage can be grounds for divorce.婚姻关系破裂至无可挽回，可以成为离婚的理由。
b : a failure that prevents a system from working properly（系统的）瘫痪，崩溃
[count]
- trying to prevent a breakdown of the health-care system尽力防止医疗保健体系陷于瘫痪
[noncount]
- trying to prevent breakdown of the health-care system尽力防止医疗保健体系陷于瘫痪
- Analysts predict that the country is headed for economic breakdown. [=meltdown]分析家预测这个国家正在走向经济崩溃。
3
[count] : a sudden failure of mental or physical health that makes someone unable to live normally（精神或身体健康的）衰竭，崩溃— see also nervous breakdown
- He suffered/had a breakdown after his wife died.妻子死后，他崩溃了。
- a total physical/mental breakdown [=collapse]身体/精神的彻底崩溃
4
: the process or result of showing the different parts of something in order to understand it more clearly分类；明细
[count]
- Doing/Providing a breakdown of the statistics into categories will take time.把这些统计数据进行分门别类需要一些时间。
- I want a detailed breakdown of the statistics into categories.我需要对这些统计数据进行详细的分门别类。
[noncount]
- The library's database enables breakdown by title, author, and genre.图书馆的数据库可以通过书名、作者和体裁分类信息来查询。
5
[noncount] : the process or result of separating a substance into simpler parts分解— see also break down at 1break
- the breakdown of water into hydrogen and oxygen水分解成氢气和氧气的过程
- observing cell/tissue/protein breakdown观察细胞/组织/蛋白质的分解
- a substance that resists breakdown抗分解物质
