breakdown English · revision 7791

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=compound|attested=1786}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈbɹeɪkdaʊn/ ''(UK)''; /ˈbɹeɪkˌdaʊn/ ''(US)''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is a noun from the verbal phrase [[break]] down,^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024)^(SOED 2002) which is attested by the late 14th century in the sense to take down by breaking.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ A mechanical failure: 1786 in HTOED;^(HTOED) a collapse, a falling apart, 1832 in Etymonline, 1827 in MWU.^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ In 19th-century American English a breakdown was also a noisy, lively country dance, a hoedown (1819 in HTOED, 1864 in Etymonline).^(HTOED)^(Etymonline)^(SOED 2002) A collapse of a relationship or system is from 1820,^(HTOED) and of machinery from 1838 in Etymonline.^(Etymonline) A decline in health is from 1828,^(HTOED) and a ''nervous breakdown'' from 1866.^(Etymonline) Chemical decomposition is from 1886,^(HTOED) and in physics the failure of an insulator from 1897.^(HTOED) An analysis in detail is from 1936, from the verb's sense to analyse, classify (1934).^(Etymonline) In New Zealand sawmills it is the first cutting of logs into timber (1866),^(HTOED) and in music a passage that departs from a song's structure (1979).^(HTOED)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1786 – a mechanical failure.^(HTOED)

+ * 1819 – a lively dance (US).^(HTOED)

+ * 1820 – collapse of a system.^(HTOED)

+ * 1866 – nervous breakdown.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1936 – a detailed analysis.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A failure to function, as of a machine or vehicle.^(AHD)^(Chambers 2008)

+ # A collapse or failure, as of a relationship, system or talks.^(AHD)^(LDOCE 2009)^(NODE 1998)

+ # A sudden collapse in physical or [[mental]] health.^(AHD)^(COED 2004)

+ # Chemical or physical [[decomposition]].^(COED 2004)

+ # A detailed [[analysis]] or classification of figures or data.^(AHD)^(COED 2004)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[breakdown voltage]]

+ * [[nervous breakdown]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[break down]]

+ * [[break]]

+ * [[down]]

+ * [[downfall]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}