Collapse

/kəˈlæps/

Meaning & Definition

noun
the act of collapsing; a sudden failure or breakdown
The collapse of the stock market caused widespread panic.
a situation in which something falls down or fails suddenly
The team's collapse in the final minutes of the game was unexpected.
verb
to fall down or give way suddenly
The building began to collapse during the earthquake.
to break apart and fall down
After years of neglect, the old bridge finally collapsed.
to lose the ability to function or respond properly
The software system collapsed under heavy user demand.

Etymology

From Latin 'collapsus', past participle of 'collabi', meaning 'to fall together'.

Common Phrases and Expressions

collapsing under pressure:
to fail when faced with stress or difficulty.
collapse of trust:
a situation where trust is suddenly lost.
collapse in demand:
a significant drop in demand for a product or service.

Related Words

Slang Meanings

to fall apart emotionally or mentally.
After hearing the news, he just collapsed.
to give in under pressure.
She was so stressed about the exam that she totally collapsed.