breakdown
/ˈbɹeɪkˌdaʊn/
Word Rarity
Uncommon
Frequency: 4.10 in modern English
19
Scrabble Score
9
Letters
2
Syllables
9
Unique Chars
Meaning
noun
Separation of a thing into components; decomposition, fragmentation; (countable) an instance of this.
Uncountable
noun
Separation of a thing into components; decomposition, fragmentation; (countable) an instance of this.
Uncountable
noun
Separation of a thing into components; decomposition, fragmentation; (countable) an instance of this.
Countable
Example Sentences
- "Whenever he was behind the wheel, he would panic at the first sign of a breakdown."
- "He declared that these drastic steps would undoubtedly inconvenience a good many people, but the alternative was bankruptcy of the Ulster Transport Authority and the breakdown of public transport services."
- "We saw a breakdown by the side of the road."
- "Looking at the breakdown of the budget, I see a few items we could cut."
- "The railways' monopoly had meant that accountancy and record-keeping had been limited to global accounts. In other words, there were only really headline numbers, with little useful breakdown by routes or traffic type."
- "I am quite competent to answer all / Demands, in any such capacity— / But of the break-down of my general aims: […]"
Etymology
Etymology tree English break Middle English doun English down English break downdeverb. English breakdown Deverbal from break down.
Regional Pronunciation
- American English: /ˈbɹeɪkˌdaʊn/
- British English: /ˈbɹeɪkdaʊn/