different between dysfunction vs breakdown

English

Etymology

dys- +? function

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /d?s?f??k.??n/

Noun

dysfunction (countable and uncountable, plural dysfunctions)

1. A failure to function in an expected or complete manner. Usually refers to a disorder in a bodily organ (e.g. erectile dysfunction), a mental disorder, or the improper behavior of a social group.

Antonyms

• eufunction
• function

Derived terms

• dysfunctional
• dysfunctionally

Translations

Verb

dysfunction (third-person singular simple present dysfunctions, present participle dysfunctioning, simple past and past participle dysfunctioned)

1. (nonstandard, intransitive, chiefly biology) To fail to function correctly; to malfunction.

English

Etymology

From the verb phrase break down.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?b?e?kda?n/

Noun

breakdown (countable and uncountable, plural breakdowns)

1. A failure, particularly mechanical; something that has failed

2. A physical collapse or lapse of mental stability

3. Listing, division or categorization in great detail

4. (film, television) A detailed description of a forthcoming project, including the characters and roles required.
5. (chemistry) Breaking of chemical bonds within a compound to produce simpler compounds or elements.
6. (physics) The sudden transition of an electrical insulator to a conductor when subjected to a sufficiently strong voltage, caused by the partial or complete ionization of the insulator.
7. A musical technique by which the music is stripped down, becoming simpler, varying in heaviness depending on the genre.
   • 1992, En Vogue, My Lovin' (You're Never Gonna Get It) (song)

     And now it's time for a breakdown!

   • 1999, CMJ New Music Report (volume 59, number 631, page 28)

     The fired-up foursome takes itself very seriously, singing politically charged lyrics, which, in the tradition of Strife and Damnation AD, are strategically placed in the middle of slamming, moshable breakdowns.

8. (sports) A loss of organization (of the parts of a system).
9. (US, dated) A noisy, rapid, shuffling dance engaged in competitively by a number of persons or pairs in succession, common in Southern United States African American music.
10. (US, dated) Any crude, noisy dance performed by shuffling the feet, usually by one person at a time.
    • 1854, New England Tales

      Don't clear out when the quadrilles are over, for we are going to have a breakdown to wind up with.

11. (US) Any rapid bluegrass dance tune, especially featuring a five-string banjo.

    "Foggy Mountain Breakdown"

    • 1893, Mark Twain "The Californian's Tale", in The $30,000 Bequest and Other Stories (1906)

      Towards nine the three miners said that as they had brought their instruments they might as well tune up, for the boys and girls would soon be arriving now, and hungry for a good old fashioned breakdown. A fiddle, a banjo, and a clarinet - these were the instruments.
12. (music) The percussion break of songs chosen by a DJ for use in hip-hop music.

Synonyms

• (musical technique): degradation

Derived terms

Translations

See also

• break it down

References

• (The percussion break of songs chosen by a DJ for use in hip-hop music.) 2001. The Garland Encyclopedia of World Music: North America. Garland Publishing. Ellen Koskoff (Ed.). Pg. 694.