Rundown

Part of speech: adjective, noun

Definitions

1. Describes something worn out or in a state of decay ; a brief summary or report explaining the main points ; a feeling of extreme tiredness or physical weakness
2. Characterizing an object or place that is dilapidated or neglected ; a concise account or explanation of events or facts ; experiencing a state of fatigue or diminished energy
3. Referring to something damaged or poorly maintained ; an overview or rundown offering essential information ; the condition of being worn down mentally or physically

Etymology: "Rundown" is a deverbal formation: it was built by taking the verb phrase "run down" and turning it into a noun, the way "breakdown" or "set-up" came from verb phrases. The verb itself is old and literal, meaning to run something over or to flow downward, and the noun grew out of that sense of things running down or being reduced. The noun's senses spread in different directions. Something that has been run down is worn out, dilapidated, or depleted, and a rundown building or machine has lost its condition through use. Another sense is a brief summary, a quick account that runs through the main points from start to finish, much like a schedule or list read down in order. The third sense, a state of extreme exhaustion, follows the same logic: a body or person that has been drained gradually reaches a low point.

Synonyms: dilapidated, decrepit, run-down, worn-out, shabby

Antonyms: well-maintained, new, fresh, improved, neat