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collapse
[ kuh-laps ]
verb (used without object)
- to fall or cave in; crumble suddenly:
The roof collapsed and buried the crowd.
- to be made so that sections or parts can be folded up, as for convenient storage:
This bridge table collapses.
- to break down; come to nothing; fail:
Despite all their efforts the peace talks collapsed.
- to fall unconscious or as if unconscious or physically depleted, as from a stroke, heart attack, disease, or exhaustion.
- Pathology.
- to sink into extreme weakness.
- (of lungs) to come into an airless state.
verb (used with object)
- to cause to collapse:
He collapsed the table easily.
noun
- a falling in or together:
Three miners were trapped by the collapse of the tunnel roof.
- a sudden, complete failure; breakdown:
The bribery scandal brought about the complete collapse of his industrial empire.
collapse
/ kəˈlæps /
verb
- intr to fall down or cave in suddenly
the whole building collapsed
- intr to fail completely
his story collapsed on investigation
- intr to break down or fall down from lack of strength
- to fold (furniture, etc) compactly or (of furniture, etc) to be designed to fold compactly
noun
- the act or instance of suddenly falling down, caving in, or crumbling
- a sudden failure or breakdown
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Derived Forms
- colˈlapsible, adjective
- colˌlapsiˈbility, noun
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Other Words From
- precol·lapse verb precollapsed precollapsing
- uncol·lapsed adjective
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Word History and Origins
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Word History and Origins
Origin of collapse1
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Example Sentences
Angry Birds at its simplest was the same way, though you wanted to watch things collapse and explode.
No precautions have been taken to reinforce the ceilings, which could collapse onto the statues.
In 1997, an earthquake in Assisi caused the collapse of the main cathedral and killed ten people.
A hard look at campus rape statistics, the collapse of The New Republic and the day John Lennon died.
But to say the capital teeters on the verge of collapse is both melodramatic and misleading.
At any moment, if he cared to collapse, he could make ten thousand pounds in a single day.
The danger of collapse was past for the present, but the deep sleep of utter intoxication still clung to the ruler of Asturia.
In a big armchair a white-haired man in evening dress was lying back in a state of collapse.
Beyond doubt here was the ruler of Asturia, whom Jessie had left not so long before in a state of collapse.
Collapse ensues and death takes place on the second to the fourth day of the affection.
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