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1. Dictionary

   Col·lapse

   /kəˈlaps/

   

   verb

   • 1. (of a structure) fall down or in; give way: "the roof collapsed on top of me" Similar cave infall insubsidefall downsagslumpsettlegivegive waycrumblecrumpledisintegratefall to piecescome apartOpposite hold up
   • ▪ cause (something) to fall in or give way: "it feels as if the slightest pressure would collapse it"
   • ▪ (of a lung or blood vessel) become flat and empty with the walls fallen inward: "she was so dehydrated that her veins had collapsed"
   • ▪ cause (a lung or blood vessel) to collapse: "he had an operation to collapse his lung"
   • 2. (of a person) fall down and become unconscious, typically through illness or injury: "he collapsed from loss of blood" Similar faintpass outblack outlose consciousnessfall unconsciouskeel overinformal:flake outconk outgo outliterary:swoon
   • ▪ sit or lie down as a result of tiredness or amusement: "exhausted, he collapsed on the bed"
   • 3. (of an institution or undertaking) fail suddenly and completely: "in the face of such resolve his opposition finally collapsed" Similar break downfailfall throughfoldfounderfall flatmiscarrygo wrongcome to nothingcome to griefbe frustratedbe unsuccessfulnot succeeddisintegratecome to a haltendterminateinformal:flopfizzle outflatlineOpposite succeed
   • ▪ (of a price or currency) drop suddenly in value: "the price of oil collapsed"
   • 4. fold or be folded to fit into a small space: "some cots collapse down to fit into a bag"
   • ▪ compress a displayed part of (a spreadsheet or other electronic document): "tabulation programs can be used to collapse this list in various ways"

   noun

   • 1. an instance of a structure falling down or in: "the collapse of a railroad bridge" Similar cave-ingiving waysubsidencecrumblingdisintegration
   • ▪ a sudden failure of an institution or undertaking: "the collapse of the Ottoman Empire" Similar breakdownfailuredisintegrationfounderingmiscarriagelack of successhaltendterminationOpposite outcomesuccess
   • ▪ a physical or mental breakdown: "he suffered a collapse from overwork" Similar breakdownattackseizureprostrationnervous breakdownnervous/mental collapsenervous exhaustionnervous tensioncrisispersonal crisispsychological traumainformal:crack-up

   Word Origin early 17th century (as collapsed): from medical Latin collapsus, past participle of collabi, from col- ‘together’ + labi ‘to slip’.

   Scrabble Points: 12

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2. www.merriam-webster.com › dictionary › collapseCollapse Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster

   www.merriam-webster.com › dictionary › collapse

   • Cached

   The meaning of COLLAPSE is to fall or shrink together abruptly and completely : fall into a jumbled or flattened mass through the force of external pressure. How to use collapse in a sentence.

3. www.dictionary.com › browse › collapseCOLLAPSE Definition & Meaning | Dictionary.com

   www.dictionary.com › browse › collapse

   • Cached

   Collapse means to break apart suddenly, as in The rickety bridge collapsed into the river. If something collapses, it falls apart or caves in quickly and suddenly. Usually, something collapses because it’s unable to support its own weight.

4. dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › englishCOLLAPSE | English meaning - Cambridge Dictionary

   dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › english

   • Cached

   (of people and business) to suddenly be unable to continue or work correctly: Lots of people lost their jobs when the property market collapsed. Talks between management and unions have collapsed. Share prices collapsed (= became lower suddenly) after news of poor trading. Thesaurus: synonyms, antonyms, and examples. More examples.

5. www.vocabulary.com › dictionary › collapseCollapse - Definition, Meaning & Synonyms | Vocabulary.com

   www.vocabulary.com › dictionary › collapse

   cause to burst. synonyms: burst. break, cave in, fall in, founder, give, give way. break down, literally or metaphorically. see more. noun. 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”.

6. www.thefreedictionary.com › collapseCollapse - definition of collapse by The Free Dictionary

   www.thefreedictionary.com › collapse

   • Cached

   1. ( intr) to fall down or cave in suddenly: the whole building collapsed. 2. ( intr) to fail completely: his story collapsed on investigation. 3. ( intr) to break down or fall down from lack of strength. 4. to fold (furniture, etc) compactly or (of furniture, etc) to be designed to fold compactly. n.

7. www.collinsdictionary.com › english › collapseCOLLAPSE definition and meaning | Collins English Dictionary

   www.collinsdictionary.com › english › collapse

   • Cached

   Apr 29, 2024 · 1. verb. If a building or other structure collapses, it falls down very suddenly. A section of the Bay Bridge had collapsed. [VERB] The roof collapsed in a roar of rock and rubble. [VERB] Most of the deaths were caused by landslides and collapsing buildings. [VERB -ing] Synonyms: fall down, fall, give way, subside More Synonyms of collapse.

8. dictionary.cambridge.org › collapseCOLLAPSE | meaning - Cambridge Learner's Dictionary

   dictionary.cambridge.org › collapse

   • Cached

   to fall down or towards the inside, or to make a structure or object fall down or towards its inside: The roof collapsed under the weight of snow. collapse verb (FAIL) to fail to work or succeed: The peace talks have collapsed. collapse. noun [ C, U ] uk / kəˈlæps / us. collapse noun [C, U] (FAILURE) B2.