The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 8 letter word ANALYTIC
I've seen this crossword clue in The Times
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More clues leading to the result ANALYTIC
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The straight part
We know that "breaking down" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case breaking down = analytic.The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
What does ANALYTIC mean?
ANALYTIC adjective- Of, or relating to any form of analysis, or to analytics.
- Of, or relating to division into elements or principles.
- Having the ability to analyse.
- (of a proposition) that follows necessarily; tautologous.
- Of, or relating to algebra or a similar method of analysis.
- Being defined in terms of objects of differential calculus such as derivatives.
- Holomorphic; complex-differentiable.
- Of a language, having a grammar principally dependent on the arrangement of uninflected words within sentences to indicate meaning. Compare synthetic.