break something down (into something)
- break something down (into something)
break something down† (into something)
1. to reduce a compound or its structure to its components. •
Heat will break this down into sodium and a few gases.
•
Will heat break down this substance into anything useful?
•
We broke it into little pieces.
2. to reduce a large numerical total to its subparts and explain each one. •
She broke the total down into its components.
•
Please break down the total into its parts again.
•
I'll break the total down for you.
3. to discuss the details of something by examining its subparts. (See also
break something
down (for someone
).) •
Let's break this problem down into its parts and deal with each one separately.
•
Breaking down complex problems into their components is almost fun.
•
Let's break this issue down and discuss it.
Dictionary of American idioms.
2013.
Look at other dictionaries:
break something down — 1 the police broke the door down: KNOCK DOWN, kick down, smash in, pull down, tear down, demolish. 2 break big tasks down into smaller parts: DIVIDE, separate. 3 graphs show how the i … Useful english dictionary
break something down — 1) the police broke the door down Syn: knock down, kick down, smash in, pull down, tear down, demolish 2) break big tasks down into smaller parts Syn: divide, separate 3) graphs show how the information can be broken down … Thesaurus of popular words
break down something — break down (something) 1. to divide something into smaller parts. The quickest way to get this job done is to break it down into a number of specific steps. 2. to cause something to weaken or decay. Temperatures were high enough to break down the … New idioms dictionary
break down — (something) 1. to divide something into smaller parts. The quickest way to get this job done is to break it down into a number of specific steps. 2. to cause something to weaken or decay. Temperatures were high enough to break down the chemicals … New idioms dictionary
break — break1 [ breık ] (past tense broke [ brouk ] ; past participle broken [ broukən ] ) verb *** ▸ 1 separate into pieces ▸ 2 fail to obey rules ▸ 3 make a hole/cut ▸ 4 destroy someone s confidence ▸ 5 when people learn news ▸ 6 stop for a short time … Usage of the words and phrases in modern English
break down — phrasal verb Word forms break down : present tense I/you/we/they break down he/she/it breaks down present participle breaking down past tense broke down past participle broken down 1) [intransitive] if a machine or vehicle breaks down, it stops… … English dictionary
break — vb Break, crack, burst, bust, snap, shatter, shiver are comparable as general terms meaning fundamentally to come apart or cause to come apart. Break basically implies the operation of a stress or strain that will cause a rupture, a fracture, a… … New Dictionary of Synonyms
break down — {v.} (stress on down ) 1. To smash or hit (something) so that it falls; cause to fall by force. * /The firemen broke down the door./ 2. To reduce or destroy the strength or effect of; weaken; win over. * /By helpful kindness the teacher broke… … Dictionary of American idioms
break down — {v.} (stress on down ) 1. To smash or hit (something) so that it falls; cause to fall by force. * /The firemen broke down the door./ 2. To reduce or destroy the strength or effect of; weaken; win over. * /By helpful kindness the teacher broke… … Dictionary of American idioms
break — break1 W1S1 [breık] v past tense broke [brəuk US brouk] past participle broken [ˈbrəukən US ˈbrou ] ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ 1¦(separate into pieces)¦ 2¦(bones)¦ 3¦(machines)¦ 4¦(rules/laws)¦ 5¦(promise/agreement)¦ 6¦(stop/rest)¦ 7¦(end something)¦ … Dictionary of contemporary English
break — breakable, adj. breakableness, n. breakably, adv. breakless, adj. /brayk/, v., broke or (Archaic) brake; broken or (Archaic) broke; breaking; n. v.t … Universalium
