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collapse
[kuh-laps]
verb (used without object)
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)
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
/ əˈæ /
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
Other 51Թ Forms
- precollapse verb
- uncollapsed adjective
- DZˈ adjective
- DZˌˈٲ noun
51Թ History and Origins
51Թ History and Origins
Origin of collapse1
Example Sentences
They see the distinction between wild spaces and urban spaces collapsing, which is happening anyway, not always harmoniously.
After the Syrian regime's collapse in December, Mr Al Hassan had fled to Iran.
Somalia, a former Italian colony, has experienced a prolonged period of civil war after the government of President Siad Barre collapsed in January 1991.
Leinster were on the front foot from the off and immediately won a pair of penalties for the scrum collapsing and the Bulls not rolling away.
What if Israel succeeded in its long term aim of forcing the collapse of the Islamic revolutionary regime in Iran?
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When To Use
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.Collapse can also be used figuratively to mean to fail or break down, as in The party quickly collapsed when two groups started fighting with each other.Collapse can also mean to fall unconscious or to pass out, as in The marathon runner collapsed due to heat stroke.Collapse can also be used as a noun in any of these senses, as in She determined that the coins dated back to the collapse of the Ottoman Empire.Example: I had to rebuild my house of cards after the wobbly table caused it to collapse.
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