breakdown

A situation in which a machine or vehicle stops working.

• A breakdown delayed our trip.
• The factory closed after a major machine breakdown.
• Does your insurance cover roadside breakdowns?

Similar words: failure, malfunction

Common phrases: mechanical breakdown, car breakdown, breakdown service, engine breakdown

A period of severe mental distress when someone cannot manage ordinary daily life.

• He had a nervous breakdown.
• She needed time off after her breakdown.
• Months of stress brought him close to an emotional breakdown.

Similar words: mental crisis

Common phrases: nervous breakdown, mental breakdown, have a breakdown

A detailed list showing the separate parts of something, such as costs or results.

• Here is a breakdown of the costs.
• The report includes a sales breakdown by country.
• Could you provide a detailed breakdown of our spending?

How to use it: breakdown of something (Please send a breakdown of the total cost.); breakdown by something (The report gives a breakdown by age group.)

Similar words: itemization, detailed list, analysis

Common phrases: breakdown of costs, detailed breakdown, cost breakdown

A vehicle or machine that has stopped working.

• We passed a breakdown near the bridge.
• A recovery truck towed the breakdown away.
• Two breakdowns were blocking the narrow road.

Similar words: disabled vehicle

Common phrases: tow a breakdown, roadside breakdown