breakdown

noun breakdowns · break-down

1. countable A failure, particularly one which is mechanical in nature. Whenever he was behind the wheel, he would panic at the first sign of a breakdown.
2. uncountable The sudden (and usually damaging) transition of an electrical insulator to a conductor when subjected to a sufficiently strong voltage, caused by the partial or complete ionization of the insulator; (countable) an instance of this; also, the minimum voltage at which this occurs.
3. countable Something, such as a vehicle, that has experienced a mechanical failure. We saw a breakdown by the side of the road.
4. uncountable Detailed categorization, or itemization or listing, of the components of a thing; (countable) an instance of this. Looking at the breakdown of the budget, I see a few items we could cut.
5. uncountable Breaking of chemical bonds within a compound to produce simpler compounds or elements; (countable) an instance of this.
6. countable A detailed description of a forthcoming project or screenplay which identifies all the required elements, such as the cast, costumes, equipment, props, and special effects.
7. countable, figuratively A failure in a relationship; a failure or loss of organization in a system. I am quite competent to answer all / Demands, in any such capacity— / But of the break-down of my general aims: […]
8. figuratively, uncountable (Sudden) worsening of physical health or (more commonly) mental stability, resulting in an inability to carry on normal activities; (countable) an instance of this. After so much stress, he suffered a breakdown and simply gave up.
9. figuratively, uncountable Injury to a horse's leg causing lameness; (countable) an instance of this.
10. countable, figuratively, uncountable The short period of open play immediately after a tackle and before and during the ensuing ruck. England beat Georgia in their Pool B World Cup match in Dunedin but the stuttering nature of the performance will be of concern to manager Martin Johnson. Georgia, ranked 16th in the world, dominated the breakdown before half-time and forced England into a host of infringements, but fly-half Merab K
11. attributive, countable, figuratively An act of splitting logs of wood using a large saw in a sawmill; also, the saw used; or (rare) the building in which the process is carried out.
12. countable, uncountable A part of a piece of music or a song which differs from the other parts in that it features improvisation or is stripped down (for example, played by fewer instruments or a solo performer). And now it's time for a breakdown.
13. countable, uncountable Synonym of percussion break (“a percussion-focused segment of a song, chosen by a hip-hop DJ to manipulate through cutting, mixing, and other techniques in order to create rhythmic music”).
14. countable, uncountable A section of a song, typical in hardcore music and related styles (such as metalcore, grindcore, and deathcore), characterized by a lower tempo and greater heaviness and intensity of sound. The fired-up foursome [Trial] takes itself very seriously, singing politically charged lyrics, which, in the tradition of Strife and Damnation AD, are strategically placed in the middle of slamming, moshable breakdowns.
15. Southern US, countable, dated, uncountable A noisy, rapid, shuffling dance engaged in competitively by a number of individuals or pairs in succession, common among African-Americans from the Southern United States; also, a lively event, chiefly in a rural setting, at which such dancing is done; a hoedown, a shindig. Come, hold on, boys, do n't clear out when the quadrilles are over, for we are going to have a break down to wind up with.
16. Southern US, countable, uncountable A piece of music played for such a dance, especially a rapid bluegrass tune featuring a five-string banjo. Without a change of countenance, as if he were deaf to her entreaties and threats, he tuned up the banjo, and played a breakdown.
17. countable, obsolete An act of a structure or other thing breaking and collapsing.