Search results for 'collapse':

collapse verb (collapsed, collapsing) 1 intrans said of buildings, etc: to fall, give way or cave in. 2 intrans said of people: a to fall or drop in a state of unconsciousness; to faint; b to drop in a state of exhaustion or helplessness. 3 intrans to break down emotionally • She collapsed in a flood of tears. 4 intrans to fail suddenly and completely • Several firms collapsed. 5 tr & intr to fold up compactly for storage or space-saving • You can collapse the table into a small box. 6 tr & intr said of the lungs or blood vessels, etc: to become or cause to become flattened. 7 intrans, stock exchange to suffer a sudden steep drop in value • The company's shares collapsed by the end of trading. noun 1 a process or act of collapsing. 2 a breakdown. collapsible or collapsable adj. collapsibility or collapsability noun.
ETYMOLOGY: 18c: from Latin collabi collapsus to slide or fall.