break down — (someone) 1. to cause someone to become emotional. Andy broke down and cried several times during his retirement speech. 2. to weaken someone. I felt so good, I felt like nothing could break me down or make me sick … New idioms dictionary
break down phrasal — verb 1 MACHINE (I) if a large machine, especially a car, breaks down, it stops working: The elevators in this building are always breaking down. 2 FAIL (I) if a discussion, system etc breaks down, it fails because there are problems: Peace talks… … Longman dictionary of contemporary English
break down — 1) PHRASAL VERB If a machine or a vehicle breaks down, it stops working. [V P] Their car broke down. 2) PHRASAL VERB If a discussion, relationship, or system breaks down, it fails because of a problem or disagreement. [V P] Talks with business… … English dictionary
break·down — /ˈbreıkˌdaʊn/ noun, pl downs 1 : a failure of a machine to function : an occurrence in which a machine (such as a car) stops working [count] We had a breakdown on the highway. [=our car broke down on the highway; our car stopped working on the… … Useful english dictionary
break — ► VERB (past broke; past part. broken) 1) separate into pieces as a result of a blow, shock, or strain. 2) make or become inoperative; stop working. 3) interrupt (a continuity, sequence, or course). 4) fail to observe (a law, regulation, or… … English terms dictionary
break — [brāk] vt. broke, broken, breaking [ME breken < OE brecan < IE base * bhreg > BREACH, BREECH, Ger brechen, L frangere] 1. to cause to come apart by force; split or crack sharply into pieces; smash; burst 2. a) … English World dictionary
break — break1 [ breık ] (past tense broke [ brouk ] ; past participle broken [ broukən ] ) verb *** ▸ 1 separate into pieces ▸ 2 fail to obey rules ▸ 3 make a hole/cut ▸ 4 destroy someone s confidence ▸ 5 when people learn news ▸ 6 stop for a short time … Usage of the words and phrases in modern English
break — break1 W1S1 [breık] v past tense broke [brəuk US brouk] past participle broken [ˈbrəukən US ˈbrou ] ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ 1¦(separate into pieces)¦ 2¦(bones)¦ 3¦(machines)¦ 4¦(rules/laws)¦ 5¦(promise/agreement)¦ 6¦(stop/rest)¦ 7¦(end something)¦ … Dictionary of contemporary English
break — [c]/breɪk / (say brayk) verb (broke or, Archaic, brake, broken or, Archaic, broke, breaking) – …
break*/*/*/ — [breɪk] (past tense broke [brəʊk] ; past participle broken [ˈbrəʊkən] ) verb I 1) [I/T] if something breaks, or if you break it, it separates into two or more pieces when it is hit, dropped etc I broke two dishes this morning.[/ex] Joey broke… … Dictionary for writing and speaking English