collapse

The definition of collapse means to cave in, to fall or to break down into pieces when the support to stand is lost.

(verb)

An example of to collapse is someone falling to the ground when their knees give way after the person hears terrible news.

See collapse in Webster's New World College Dictionary

intransitive verb collapsed, collapsing

to fall down or fall to pieces, as when supports or sides fail to hold; cave in; shrink together suddenly
to break down suddenly; fail; give way: the enemy's defense collapsed
1. to break down or fail suddenly in health or physical strength
2. to fall down, as from a blow or exhaustion
3. to fall or drop drastically, as in value or force
to fold or come together compactly

Origin: < L collapsus, pp. of collabi < com-, together + labi, to fall: see lap

transitive verb

to cause to collapse

noun

the act of collapsing; a falling in or together; failure or breakdown, as in business or health

Related Forms:

See collapse in American Heritage Dictionary 4

verb col·lapsed, col·laps·ing, col·laps·es

verb, intransitive

To fall down or inward suddenly; cave in.
To break down suddenly in strength or health and thereby cease to function: a monarchy that collapsed.
To fold compactly: chairs that collapse for storage.

verb, transitive

To cause to fold, break down, or fall down or inward.

noun

The act of falling down or inward, as from loss of supports.
An abrupt failure of function, strength, or health; a breakdown.
An abrupt loss of perceived value or of effect: the collapse of popular respect for the integrity of world leaders.

Origin:

Origin: Latin collābī, collāps-, to fall together

Origin: : com-, com-

Origin: + lābī, to fall

Related Forms: