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View synonyms for collapse
collapse
[ kuh-laps ]
verb (used without object)
collapsed, collapsing.
- to fall or cave in; crumble suddenly:
The roof collapsed and buried the crowd.
- to be made so that sections or parts can be folded up, as for convenient storage:
This bridge table collapses.
- to break down; come to nothing; fail:
Despite all their efforts the peace talks collapsed.
- to fall unconscious or as if unconscious or physically depleted, as from a stroke, heart attack, disease, or exhaustion.
- Pathology.
- to sink into extreme weakness.
- (of lungs) to come into an airless state.
verb (used with object)
collapsed, collapsing.
- to cause to collapse:
He collapsed the table easily.
noun
- a falling in or together:
Three miners were trapped by the collapse of the tunnel roof.
- a sudden, complete failure; breakdown:
The bribery scandal brought about the complete collapse of his industrial empire.
collapse
/ kəˈlæps /
verb
- intr to fall down or cave in suddenly
the whole building collapsed
- intr to fail completely
his story collapsed on investigation
- intr to break down or fall down from lack of strength
- to fold (furniture, etc) compactly or (of furniture, etc) to be designed to fold compactly
noun
- the act or instance of suddenly falling down, caving in, or crumbling
- a sudden failure or breakdown
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Derived Forms
- colˈlapsible, adjective
- colˌlapsiˈbility, noun
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Other Words From
- precol·lapse verb precollapsed precollapsing
- uncol·lapsed adjective
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Word History and Origins
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Word History and Origins
Origin of collapse1
C18: from Latin collāpsus, from collābī to fall in ruins, from lābī to fall
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