What is another word for break down?

Breaking down can be described as "decomposing". Something that can break something down or decompose something is catabolic. Often used in science, catabolic means that a formula or chemical is breaking down another. Your stomach acid digesting food is an act of being catabolic.

It can also be called a psychotic break if referring to a person.

Synonyms for breaking down can include "spell out", "shed light on", "make plain", elucidate, simplify, "make clear", interpret, illuminate, delineate, class, codify.