Meaning & Definition of Collapse in English

Detailed Definitions

• Definition: to fall or cave in suddenly; to give way.

  Example Sentence: The old building threatened to collapse under the weight of the snow.

• Definition: to fold or cause to fold together.

  Example Sentence: She collapsed the cardboard box for recycling.

• Definition: to undergo a sudden loss of physical strength or health.

  Example Sentence: After running the marathon, he collapsed from exhaustion.

• Definition: to fail suddenly and completely.

  Example Sentence: The financial market collapsed during the crisis.

• Definition: to introduce a technique or strategy that involves maximum efficiency.

  Example Sentence: The company decided to collapse its production lines to save costs.

Etymology

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

Synonyms

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.

Translations

• Spanish: colapso

• French: effondrement

• German: Kollaps

• Russian: коллапс

Related Words

• cave-in: a sudden failure of a structural element.

• breakdown: a failure to function or work.

• crash: a sudden, catastrophic failure.

Slang Meanings of collapse

• Meaning: to fall apart emotionally or mentally.

  Example Sentence: After hearing the news, he just collapsed.

• Meaning: to give in under pressure.

  Example Sentence: She was so stressed about the exam that she totally collapsed.