break down
[phrasal verb] 1
a of a machine : to stop working properly(机器)损坏,出故障 — see also 1break 4 (above) b : to fail or stop usually in a complete and sudden way失败;突然停止 -
Negotiations have broken down. [=collapsed]谈判已经破裂。
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The government's argument broke down completely when new evidence came to light.新证据一经曝光,政府的辩解就完全站不住脚了。
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Their marriage had broken down [=failed], and there was nothing to do about it.他们的婚姻已经破裂,无法挽救了。
2
a : to become overwhelmed by strong emotions感情失控;感情崩溃 — see also 1break 8c (above) b break down or break (someone) down or break down (someone) : to lose or cause (someone) to lose strength or the ability to resist or fight(使某人)垮掉,变得衰弱 -
The prisoner finally broke down under intensive questioning.在强大的审问攻势下,囚犯的精神防线终于崩溃了。
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She finally broke down and got a cell phone. [=she bought a cell phone after resisting the desire to buy one for a long time]她最终禁不住诱惑,还是买了一部手机。
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Intensive questioning finally broke the prisoner down.强大的审问攻势最终使囚犯精神防线崩溃。
— see also 1break 8b (above) 3 break down or break (something) down or break down (something)
a : to become separated or to separate (something) into simpler substances(使)分解 -
The foods you eat break down in the body's digestive system.吃下去的食物在消化系统中分解。
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The body's digestive system breaks food down.身体的消化系统分解食物。
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Water can be broken down into hydrogen and oxygen through electrolysis. = Water can break down into hydrogen and oxygen through electrolysis.通过电解作用,水会被分解为氢气和氧气。
b : to be able to be divided or to divide (something) into parts or groups(使)分为 -
The report breaks down into three sections. = The report is broken down into three sections. [=the report has three sections]报告分为三个部分。
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The author has broken down the nation's history into three distinct periods.作者把这个国家的历史分为三个不同的时期。
4
break (something) down or break down (something) : to use force to push (something) to the ground拆除;捣毁 -
break a door down把门拆除
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break down a barrier清除障碍
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sometimes used figuratively有时用作比喻 — see also breakdown