breakdown

breakdown

 [brāk´doun]

1. the act or process of ceasing to function, or the resulting condition.

2. an often sudden collapse in health, physical or mental.

3. loss of self-control.

nervous breakdown a nonspecific, popular name for any type of mental disorder that interferes with the affected individual's normal activities, often implying a severe episode of sudden onset.

Miller-Keane Encyclopedia and Dictionary of Medicine, Nursing, and Allied Health, Seventh Edition. © 2003 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier, Inc. All rights reserved.

breakdown

(brāk′doun′)

n.

1. A typically sudden collapse in physical or mental health.

2. Disintegration or decomposition into parts or elements.

The American Heritage® Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2007, 2004 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

Technology An abrupt malfunction of an instrument or device
Vox populi Any deterioration or reduction to a lesser state

Segen's Medical Dictionary. © 2012 Farlex, Inc. All rights reserved.