break down ( breaking, broke, broken, breaks )

• 1. 

  PHRASAL VERB If a machine or a vehicle breaks down, it stops working. (机器、车辆等) 出故障

  例：

  Their car broke down.

  他们的车抛锚了。

• 2. 

  PHRASAL VERB If a discussion, relationship, or system breaks down, it fails because of a problem or disagreement. (讨论、关系) 失败; (系统) 瘫痪

  例：

  Talks with business leaders broke down last night.

  与商界领导人的谈判于昨晚失败了。

• 3. 

  PHRASAL VERB To break down something such as an idea or statement means to separate it into smaller parts in order to make it easier to understand or deal with. (对观点、陈述等) 分门别类

  例：

  The report breaks down the results region by region.

  该报告将结果按地区一一分类。

• 4. 

  PHRASAL VERB When a substance breaks down or when something breaks it down, a biological or chemical process causes it to separate into the substances which make it up. 分解

  例：

  Over time, the protein in the eggshell breaks down into its constituent amino acids.

  随着时间的推移,蛋壳中的蛋白质分解成其构成成分氨基酸。

• 5. 

  PHRASAL VERB If someone breaks down, they lose control of themselves and start crying. 失控痛哭

  例：

  Because he was being so kind and concerned, I broke down and cried.

  因为他那时对我那般友善关心,我失控哭了起来。

• 6. 

  PHRASAL VERB If you break down a door or barrier, you hit it so hard that it falls to the ground. 砸倒 (门、障碍物)

  例：

  An unruly mob broke down police barricades and stormed the courtroom.

  一群无法无天的暴徒捣毁了警障冲进了法庭。

• 7. 

  PHRASAL VERB To break down barriers or prejudices that separate people or restrict their freedom means to change people's attitudes so that the barriers or prejudices no longer exist. 破除 (障碍、偏见等) [表赞许]

  例：

  Women's sports are breaking down the barriers in previously male-dominated domains.

  女子体育运动正在打破障碍进入一些先前由男子占主导地位的领域。

• 8. 

  → see also breakdown