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.

breakdown

/break·down/ (brāk´doun)

1. the act or process of ceasing to function.

2. an often sudden collapse in health.

3. loss of self-control.

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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 with sudden onset.

breakdown

(brāk′doun′)

n.

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

2. Disintegration or decomposition into parts or elements.

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

breakdown

1. sudden appearance of disease in an individual or herd/flock in which immunity had previously appeared adequate. The term is used especially in relation to breakdowns after vaccination, e.g. classical swine fever (hog cholera), infectious avian laryngotracheitis, erysipelas. Also in individual animals which harbor inactive lesions which suddenly break down or metastasize and cause widespread lesions, e.g. in tuberculosis, contagious bovine pleuropneumonia.

2. acute onset of lameness in a racing horse.