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
assort, categorize, class, classify, codify, compartment, compartmentalize, digest, distinguish, distribute, grade, group, peg, place, range, rank, relegate, separate, sort, type
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
corrupt, decay, decompose, disintegrate, fester, foul, mold, molder, perish [chiefly British], putrefy, rot, spoil
sour, turn, turn off [British]
contaminate, defile, pollute, taint
addle, curdle, ferment
mortify
rust
crumble, decline, degenerate, descend, deteriorate, dilapidate, sink, wither
age, develop, grow, mature, ripen
refresh, renew, restore
cleanse, purify
assemble, compose, integrate
ameliorate, better, improve, meliorate
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
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
4
to stop functioning
- the computer finally broke down and had to be replaced
