collapse Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun an abrupt failure of function or complete physical exhaustion
    prostration.
    • the commander's prostration demoralized his men
  2. noun a natural event caused by something suddenly falling down or caving in
    • the roof is in danger of collapse
    • the collapse of the old star under its own gravity
  3. noun the act of throwing yourself down
    flop.
    • he landed on the bed with a great flop
  4. noun a sudden large decline of business or the prices of stocks (especially one that causes additional failures)
    crash.
  5. verb break down, literally or metaphorically
    founder; give; give way; break; cave in; fall in.
    • The wall collapsed
    • The business collapsed
    • The dam broke
    • The roof collapsed
    • The wall gave in
    • The roof finally gave under the weight of the ice
  6. verb collapse due to fatigue, an illness, or a sudden attack
    break down.
  7. verb fold or close up
    • fold up your umbrella
    • collapse the music stand
  8. verb fall apart
    tumble; crumple; break down; crumble.
    • the building crumbled after the explosion
    • Negotiations broke down
  9. verb cause to burst
    burst.
    • The ice broke the pipe
  10. verb suffer a nervous breakdown
    crock up; crack up; break up; crack.
  11. verb lose significance, effectiveness, or value
    • The school system is collapsing
    • The stock market collapsed

WordNet

Col*lapse" intransitive verb
Etymology
L. collapsus, p. p. of collabi to collapse; col- + labi to fall, slide. See Lapse.
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Collapsed ; present participle & verbal noun Collapsing
Definitions
  1. To fall together suddenly, as the sides of a hollow vessel; to close by falling or shrinking together; to have the sides or parts of (a thing) fall in together, or be crushed in together; as, a flue in the boiler of a steam engine sometimes collapses.
    A balloon collapses when the gas escapes from it. Maunder.
  2. To fail suddenly and completely, like something hollow when subject to too much pressure; to undergo a collapse; as, Maximilian's government collapsed soon after the French army left Mexico; many financial projects collapse after attaining some success and importance.
Col*lapse" noun
Definitions
  1. A falling together suddenly, as of the sides of a hollow vessel.
  2. A sudden and complete failure; an utter failure of any kind; a breakdown. Colloq.
  3. (Med.) Extreme depression or sudden failing o all the vital powers, as the result of disease, injury, or nervous disturbance.

Webster 1913