BREAKDOWN

dislocation, breakdown

(noun) the act of disrupting an established order so it fails to continue; “the social dislocations resulting from government policies”; “his warning came after the breakdown of talks in London”

breakdown, partitioning

(noun) an analysis into mutually exclusive categories

breakdown, equipment failure

(noun) a cessation of normal operation; “there was a power breakdown”

decomposition, rot, rotting, putrefaction, breakdown

(noun) (biology) the process of decay caused by bacterial or fungal action

breakdown, crack-up

(noun) a mental or physical breakdown

Source: WordNet® 3.1

Etymology

Noun

breakdown (plural breakdowns)

A failure, particularly mechanical; something that has failed

A physical collapse or lapse of mental stability

Listing, division or categorization in great detail

(film, television) A detailed description of a forthcoming project, including the characters and roles required.

(chemistry) Breaking of chemical bonds within a compound to produce simpler compounds or elements.

A musical technique by which the music is stripped down, becoming simpler, varying in heaviness depending on the genre.

(sports) A loss of organization (of the parts of a system).

(US, dated) A noisy, rapid, shuffling dance engaged in competitively by a number of persons or pairs in succession, common in Southern United States African American music.

(US, dated) Any crude, noisy dance performed by shuffling the feet, usually by one person at a time.

(US) Any rapid bluegrass dance tune, especially featuring a five-string banjo.

(music) The percussion break of songs chosen by a DJ for use in hip-hop music.

Synonyms

• (musical technique): degradation

Source: Wiktionary

Break"down`, n.

1. The act or result of breaking down, as of a carriage; downfall.

2. (a) A noisy, rapid, shuffling dance engaged in competitively by a number of persons or pairs in succession, as among the colored people of the Southern United States, and so called, perhaps, because the exercise is continued until most of those who take part in it break down. (b) Any rude, noisy dance performed by shuffling the feet, usually by one person at a time. [U.S.] Don't clear out when the quadrilles are over, for we are going to have a breakdown to wind up with. New Eng. Tales.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition