adjective
1. in deplorable condition (Freq. 1)
-
a street of bedraggled tenements
-
a broken-down fence
-
a ramshackle old pier
-
a tumble-down shack
• Syn: ↑bedraggled, ↑derelict, ↑dilapidated, ↑ramshackle, ↑tatterdemalion, ↑tumble-down
• Similar to: ↑damaged
• Derivationally related forms: ↑tatterdemalion (for: ↑tatterdemalion)
2. not in working order
-
had to push the broken-down car
-
a broken-down tractor fit only for children to play on
• Similar to: ↑unserviceable
* * *
adj
: in a bad or weak condition because of being old, not well cared for, etc.
a broken-down car
* * *
in a very bad condition; not working correctly; very tired and sick
•
a broken-down old car/horse
Useful english dictionary. 2012.