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

Deforestation and flooding in Bangladesh, the collapse of Black Sea fisheries, the desertification of sub-Saharan Africa and “a nearly endless list” of other issues, he said, would drive human migration.

From Salon

With prisons across the country running out of cells and the government releasing offenders early to ease pressure, the BBC has been reporting on the issues facing a system on the brink of collapse.

From BBC

Robert D. Putnam’s 2000 book “Bowling Alone: The Collapse and Revival of American Community,” which surveys how Americans have become increasingly disconnected from each other with the decline of social institutions like bowling leagues, had been a big influence in Schur’s crafting of “Parks and Recreation” and Leslie Knope’s guiding principle.

From Los Angeles Times

Musk did not specify if he would aim to deliver $2 trillion in savings in a single year, or over a longer period, but many US public finance experts, including those who are in favour in principle of reductions in US government spending, are sceptical savings on such a scale can be found in the near term without either a collapse in the delivery of important government functions or sparking major public resistance.

From BBC

“They collapse suddenly and then inflate and collapse suddenly — that was kind of the basis of the choreography,” Oppenheimer recalls.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

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