breakdown

breakdown
break‧down /ˈbreɪkdaʊn/ noun
1. [uncountable and countable] the failure of a relationship or system
    breakdown of
    He moved away after the breakdown of his marriage.
    A sudden rise in oil prices could lead to a breakdown of the economy.
    breakdown in
    There has been a serious breakdown in relations between the two countries.
    marriage/marital/family breakdown
    Family breakdown can lead to behavioural problems in children.
2. [countable] a serious medical condition in which someone becomes mentally ill and is unable to work or deal with ordinary situations in life:
    I was worried he might have a breakdown if he carried on working so hard.
    Two years ago he suffered a mental breakdown.
    She had already had one nervous breakdown.
3. [countable] an occasion when a car or a piece of machinery breaks and stops working:
    Always carry a phone with you in case you have a breakdown on the motorway.
    breakdown in
    a breakdown in the cooling system
4. [countable] a list of all the separate parts of something
    breakdown of
    Can you give us a breakdown of the figures?
5. [singular] the changing of a substance into other substances:
    the breakdown of glucose in the body to release energy ⇨ break down at break¹
     

COLLOCATIONS

■ ADJECTIVES/NOUN + breakdown
   ▪ marriage/marital breakdown problems caused by the increase in marital breakdown
   ▪ family breakdown A growing proportion of children are affected by family breakdown.
   ▪ communication breakdown (=when people do not talk or are unable to talk) The misunderstanding was the result of a communication breakdown.
   ▪ complete/total breakdown The disagreement finally led to a complete breakdown of their relationship.
   ▪ irretrievable breakdown formal (=one that is impossible to put right again) The irretrievable breakdown of a marriage may be grounds for divorce.
■ verbs
   ▪ cause/lead to a breakdown Money problems often cause marriage breakdown.