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   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

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   Learn the various meanings and uses of the word collapse as a verb and a noun, with synonyms, examples, and word history. See also related phrases and entries near collapse.

3. People also ask

   What is an example of a collapse?

   • If something, for example a system or institution, collapses, it fails or comes to an end completely and suddenly. His business empire collapsed under a massive burden of debt. [VERB] This system has collapsed in most countries where it ruled. [VERB] The rural people have been impoverished by a collapsing economy. [VERB -ing]

   COLLAPSE definition and meaning | Collins English Dictionary

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   What does collapse mean?

   • Get Word of the Day daily email! 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.

   Collapse Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster

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   Where did the word collapse come from?

   • The first records of collapse come from around 1725. It comes from the Latin collābī, meaning “to fall to ruins.” To collapse is to literally or figuratively fall, usually suddenly. With any building or man-made structure, a big concern is the structure collapsing. To prevent this, structures are reinforced to be as sturdy as possible.

   COLLAPSE Definition & Meaning | Dictionary.com

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   What does it mean if a stock market collapses?

   • To collapse means to fall over, cave in, or totally crumple. After finding out that the stock market has collapsed and your investments along with it, you'd probably collapse to the ground and sob uncontrollably. From the Latin collapsus, meaning “fall together," comes our English collapse, a word that functions as both noun and verb.

   Collapse - Definition, Meaning & Synonyms | Vocabulary.com

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

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   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.

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

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   Learn the meaning of collapse as a verb and a noun in English, with synonyms, antonyms, and usage examples. Find out how to use collapse in different contexts, such as business, construction, and health.

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

   www.vocabulary.com › dictionary › collapse

   To collapse means to fall over, cave in, or totally crumple. After finding out that the stock market has collapsed and your investments along with it, you'd probably collapse to the ground and sob uncontrollably.

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

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   Learn the meaning and usage of the word collapse from various sources, such as American Heritage, Collins, and Random House dictionaries. Find out how to use collapse in sentences and idioms, and see related words and expressions.

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

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   Learn the various meanings and uses of the word collapse as a verb and a noun, with synonyms, pronunciation, and examples. Find out how to say collapse in different contexts, such as buildings, systems, health, and language.

9. www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com › definitioncollapse verb - Definition, pictures, pronunciation and usage ...

   www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com › definition

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   Learn the meaning, pronunciation and usage of the verb collapse in English. See how to use it in different contexts, such as buildings, health, money and language.