Thesaurus
break down
verb
Synonyms and Antonyms of BREAK DOWN
1
to arrange or assign according to type <when presented with the pile of files, the first thing he did was to break them down by month, order within the month, and region>
Synonyms assort, break down, categorize, class, codify, compartment, compartmentalize, digest, distinguish, distribute, grade, group, peg, place, range, rank, relegate, separate, sort, type
Related Words array, dispose, draw up, marshal (also marshall), order, organize, systematize; alphabetize, catalog (or catalogue), file, index, list, refer; pigeonhole, shelve; identify, recognize; cull, screen, set, sieve, sift, winnow; clump, cluster, colligate; recategorize, reclassify, regroup; subcategorize
2
to go through decomposition <the enamel of a human tooth will begin to break down when exposed to sugar for too long>
Synonyms break down, corrupt, decompose, disintegrate, fester, foul, mold, molder, perish [chiefly British], putrefy, rot, spoil
Related Words sour, turn, turn off [British]; contaminate, defile, pollute, taint; addle, curdle, ferment; mortify; rust; crumble, decline, degenerate, descend, deteriorate, dilapidate, sink, wither
3
to identify and examine the basic elements or parts of (something) especially for discovering interrelationships <if we break the problem down into what appear to be three aspects of it, we'll have a better chance of solving it>
Related Words assess, diagnose, evaluate, examine, inspect, investigate, scrutinize; arrange, assort, catalog (or catalogue), categorize, classify, codify, diagram, enumerate, index, order, schematize, sort, tabulate; divide, reduce, segment, separate, subdivide
Near Antonyms agglomerate, aggregate, amalgamate, assimilate, coalesce, conglomerate, consolidate, integrate, synthesize, unify
4
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6
to take apart <the crew was breaking down the party tent when we arrived>
Related Words detach, disengage; break up, disaggregate, disarticulate, disconnect, disjoin, disjoint, dissever, disunite, divide, separate
7
to cause to break with violence and much noise <firefighters had to break down the wall to rescue the kitten>
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