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"Break down" is an intransitive verb phrase which is often translated as "estropearse", and "crumble" is a transitive verb which is often translated as "desmenuzar". Learn more about the difference between "break down" and "crumble" below.
break down(
breyk
daun
)An intransitive verb phrase is a phrase that combines a verb with a preposition or other particle and does not require a direct object (e.g., Everybody please stand up.).
a. estropearse
The hot water heater broke down last night while I was in the shower.Anoche, se estropeó la caldera mientras estaba en la ducha.
b. averiarse
My car broke down in the middle of nowhere, so I had to hitchhike.Se averió el auto en el medio de la nada, así que tuve que hacer dedo.
c. descomponerse (Latin America)
Regionalism used in Latin America: all the countries in South America, Central America, and the Caribbean. Does not include Spain.
The car broke down because the radiator overheated.El carro se descompuso porque el radiador se recalentó.
a. derrumbarse
After working sleeplessly for weeks, he broke down and started screaming at his boss.Después de trabajar sin dormir durante semanas, se derrumbó y empezó a gritarle a su jefe.
b. echarse a llorar
When he realized she had gone for good, he broke down.Cuando se dio cuenta de que ella se había ido para siempre, se echó a llorar.
c. romper a llorar
I can't watch "Bambi" without breaking down.No puedo ver "Bambi" sin romper a llorar.
3. (to fail)
a. fracasar (negotiations)
Talks between the two countries broke down after the attack.Las negociaciones entre los dos países fracasaron tras el atentado.
a. descomponerse
As citric acid breaks down, what substance is released?¿Qué sustancia se libera al descomponerse el ácido cítrico?
A transitive verb phrase is a phrase that combines a verb with a preposition or other particle and requires a direct object (e.g., take out the trash.).
5. (to destroy)
a. derribar
The detective obtained a warrant and went to break down the door of the suspect.El detective obtuvo una orden de detención y se dirigió a derribar la puerta del sospechoso.
b. echar abajo
They began to break down the Berlin Wall in 1990.Empezaron a echar abajo el Muro de Berlín en 1990.
a. dividir
It's easier if we break the work down into stages.Es más fácil si dividimos el trabajo en etapas.
7. (figurative) (to overcome)
A phrase used as a figure of speech or a word that is symbolic in meaning; metaphorical (e.g., carrot, bean).
a. vencer (resistance)
How can we break down people's resistance to change?¿Cómo podemos vencer la resistencia de la gente al cambio?
8. (to analyze)
b. descomponer
It can be difficult to break down a complicated sentence.Puede ser difícil descomponer una oración complicada.
a. descomponer
In a hydrolysis reaction, water is used to break down a molecule.En una reacción de hidrólisis, se emplea agua para descomponer una molécula.
crumble(
kruhm
-
buhl
)A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
1. (culinary)
a. desmenuzar
I like to crumble blue cheese on my salads.Me gusta desmenuzar queso azul sobre las ensaladas.
b. desmigajar
Chloe crumbled some bread on top of her soup.Chloe desmigajó un poco de pan encima de su sopa.
An intransitive verb is one that does not require a direct object (e.g., The man sneezed.).
a. desmoronarse
As the firefighters were working in the place, a wall crumbled.Mientras los bomberos trabajaban en el lugar, se desmoronó una pared.
b. venirse abajo
The building is crumbling for lack of maintenance.El edificio se está viniendo abajo por falta de mantenimiento.
c. desmigajarse
My burger bun crumbled too easily.El pan de mi hamburguesa se desmigajó demasiado fácilmente.
3. (to fail)
a. derrumbarse
The center-left alliance crumbled, paving the way for the right's victory.La alianza de centro-izquierda se derrumbó y así allanó el camino para el triunfo de la derecha.
b. desmoronarse
His aspiration to become president crumbled after the Iowa caucuses.Su aspiración de convertirse en presidente se desmoronó después de las primarias de Iowa.
c. caerse
The coalition crumbled, resulting in six more years of war.La coalición se cayó, lo que resultó en seis años más de guerra.
A noun is a word referring to a person, animal, place, thing, feeling, or idea (e.g., man, dog, house).
4. (culinary)
a. el crujiente (M)
(m) means that a noun is masculine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
Tina served a cherry crumble for dessert.Tina sirvió un crujiente de cereza de postre.
b. el crumble (M)
(m) means that a noun is masculine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
Apple crumble is easy to make and everyone loves it.El crumble de manzana es fácil de hacer y le gusta a todo el mundo.
