breaks, broke, broken, breaking
to break down
phrasal verbC
To decompose or separate into parts
- 1The material breaks down naturally over time.
- 2We need to break down this problem before we try to solve it.
- 3Can you break down the instructions step by step?
To break down means to take something apart into smaller pieces. It's like breaking a big task into smaller steps. For example, breaking down a complex problem into simpler parts to solve it more easily.
Remember, breaking down a task can also help you see the big picture more clearly. It's like putting together a puzzle - each piece contributes to the whole picture.
in a legal setting
Understanding the Case
Robert
Dorothy, can you help me understand this legal document?
Dorothy
Sure, Robert. We need to break down the clauses to see what each part means.
Robert
That makes sense. Let's start with the first section.
Dorothy
Alright, we'll go through it step by step.
at the financial institution
The Coin Puzzle
John
I can't believe this machine accepts coins but not bills.
David
Yeah, it needs to break down the coins to count them properly.
John
That makes sense, it must separate them by size and weight.
David
Exactly, it's all about sorting them into parts.
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Similar to "to break down":
- 1decompose
- 2disintegrate
to break down meanings: