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collapse
7 dictionary results for: collapse
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This
col·lapse 
[kuh-laps] Pronunciation Key verb, -lapsed, -laps·ing, noun
[kuh-laps] Pronunciation Key verb, -lapsed, -laps·ing, noun –verb (used without object)
–verb (used with object)
–noun
| 1. | to fall or cave in; crumble suddenly: The roof collapsed and buried the crowd. |
| 2. | to be made so that sections or parts can be folded up, as for convenient storage: This bridge table collapses. |
| 3. | to break down; come to nothing; fail: Despite all their efforts the peace talks collapsed. |
| 4. | to fall unconscious or as if unconscious or physically depleted, as from a stroke, heart attack, disease, or exhaustion. |
| 5. | Pathology.
|
| 6. | to cause to collapse: He collapsed the table easily. |
| 7. | a falling in or together: Three miners were trapped by the collapse of the tunnel roof. |
| 8. | a sudden, complete failure; breakdown: The bribery scandal brought about the complete collapse of his industrial empire. |
[Origin: 1725–35; < L collāpsus (ptp. of collābī to fall, fall in ruins), equiv. to col- col-1 + lāp-, var. s. of lābī to fall + -sus, var. of -tus ptp. ending]
]
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.
American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
| col·lapse
(kə-lāps') Pronunciation Key
v. col·lapsed, col·laps·ing, col·laps·es v. intr.
v. tr. To cause to fold, break down, or fall down or inward. n.
[Latin collābī, collāps-, to fall together : com-, com- + lābī, to fall.] col·laps'i·bil'i·ty n., col·laps'a·ble, col·laps'i·ble adj. |
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The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Online Etymology Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
collapse
collapse
1732, from L. collapsus, pp. of collabi "fall together," from com- "together" + labi "to fall, slip." The pp. collapsed is attested from 1609, from L. collapsus, and this seems to have suggested the verb.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
WordNet - Cite This Source - Share This
| collapse | |
noun | |
| 1. | an abrupt failure of function or complete physical exhaustion; "the commander's prostration demoralized his men" |
| 2. | a natural event caused by something suddenly falling down or caving in; "the roof is in danger of collapse"; "the collapse of the old star under its own gravity" |
| 3. | the act of throwing yourself down; "he landed on the bed with a great flop" [syn: flop] |
| 4. | a sudden large decline of business or the prices of stocks (especially one that causes additional failures) [syn: crash] |
verb | |
| 1. | break down, literally or metaphorically; "The wall collapsed"; "The business collapsed"; "The dam broke"; "The roof collapsed"; "The wall gave in"; "The roof finally gave under the weight of the ice" |
| 2. | collapse due to fatigue, an illness, or a sudden attack [syn: break down] |
| 3. | fold or close up; "fold up your umbrella"; "collapse the music stand" |
| 4. | fall apart; "the building crumbled after the explosion"; "Negotiations broke down" [syn: crumble] |
| 5. | cause to burst; "The ice broke the pipe" |
| 6. | suffer a nervous breakdown [syn: crack up] |
| 7. | lose significance, effectiveness, or value; "The school system is collapsing"; "The stock market collapsed" |
WordNet® 3.0, © 2006 by Princeton University.
American Heritage Stedman's Medical Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
collapse col·lapse (kə-lāps')
v. col·lapsed, col·laps·ing, col·laps·es
- To break down suddenly in strength or health and thereby fall into a condition of extreme prostration.
- To fall together or inward suddenly.
- A condition of extreme prostration.
- A falling together of the walls of a structure.
- The failure of a physical system.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
Collapse
Col*lapse"\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Collapsed; p. pr. & vb. n. Collapsing] [L. collapsus, p. p. of collabi to collapse; col- + labi to fall, slide. See Lapse.]1. To fall together suddenly, as the sides of a hollow vessel; to close by falling or shrinking together; to have the sides or parts of (a thing) fall in together, or be crushed in together; as, a flue in the boiler of a steam engine sometimes collapses. A balloon collapses when the gas escapes from it. --Maunder. 2. To fail suddenly and completely, like something hollow when subject to too much pressure; to undergo a collapse; as, Maximilian's government collapsed soon after the French army left Mexico; many financial projects collapse after attaining some success and importance.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
Collapse
Col*lapse"\, n. 1. A falling together suddenly, as of the sides of a hollow vessel. 2. A sudden and complete failure; an utter failure of any kind; a breakdown. [Colloq.] 3. (Med.) Extreme depression or sudden failing of all the vital powers, as the result of disease, injury, or nervous disturbance.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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