Yahoo Web Search

Search results

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

   • C

     3

   • O

     1

   • L

     1

   • L

     1

   • A

     1

   • P

     3

   • S

     1

   • E

     1

   Powered by Oxford Languages

   More Definitions, Word Origin & ScrabbleShow less