collapse

[ kuh-laps ]

verb (used without object)

, col·lapsed, col·laps·ing.

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.
   1. to sink into extreme weakness.
   2. (of lungs) to come into an airless state.

verb (used with object)

, col·lapsed, col·laps·ing.

1. to cause to collapse:

   He collapsed the table easily.

noun

1. a falling in or together:

   Three miners were trapped by the collapse of the tunnel roof.

2. a sudden, complete failure; breakdown:

   The bribery scandal brought about the complete collapse of his industrial empire.

collapse

/ kəˈlæps /

verb

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

noun

1. the act or instance of suddenly falling down, caving in, or crumbling
2. a sudden failure or breakdown

Derived Forms

• colˈlapsible, adjective
• colˌlapsiˈbility, noun

Other Words From

• precol·lapse verb precollapsed precollapsing
• uncol·lapsed adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of collapse¹

First recorded in 1725–35; from Latin collāpsus “fallen together,” past participle of collābī “to fall down, fall together, fall into ruins,” from col- col- ¹ + lābī “to fall, slide, make a mistake”

Word History and Origins

Origin of collapse¹

C18: from Latin collāpsus, from collābī to fall in ruins, from lābī to fall

Example Sentences

Angry Birds at its simplest was the same way, though you wanted to watch things collapse and explode.

From The Daily Beast

No precautions have been taken to reinforce the ceilings, which could collapse onto the statues.

From The Daily Beast

In 1997, an earthquake in Assisi caused the collapse of the main cathedral and killed ten people.

From The Daily Beast

A hard look at campus rape statistics, the collapse of The New Republic and the day John Lennon died.

From The Daily Beast

But to say the capital teeters on the verge of collapse is both melodramatic and misleading.

From The Daily Beast

At any moment, if he cared to collapse, he could make ten thousand pounds in a single day.

From Project Gutenberg

The danger of collapse was past for the present, but the deep sleep of utter intoxication still clung to the ruler of Asturia.

From Project Gutenberg

In a big armchair a white-haired man in evening dress was lying back in a state of collapse.

From Project Gutenberg

Beyond doubt here was the ruler of Asturia, whom Jessie had left not so long before in a state of collapse.

From Project Gutenberg

Collapse ensues and death takes place on the second to the fourth day of the affection.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• bankruptcy
• catastrophe
• crash
• debacle
• destruction
• disintegration
• disruption
• failure