breakdown

(noun) the act of disrupting an established order so it fails to continue. Synonyms: dislocation. Examples: "The social dislocations resulting from government policies." "His warning came after the breakdown of talks in london."

(noun) a mental or physical breakdown. Synonyms: crack-up.

(noun) a cessation of normal operation. Synonyms: equipment failure. Example: "There was a power breakdown."

(noun) an analysis into mutually exclusive categories. Synonyms: partitioning.