Pronunciations (6)
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/kəˈlæps/
Pronunciation notes
- Canada
- General-American
- Received-Pronunciation
-
/klæps/
Pronunciation notes
- Canada
- General-American
- Received-Pronunciation
- also
-
/kəˈlɛps/
Pronunciation notes
- New-Zealand
-
/kɵˈlæps/
Pronunciation notes
- South-Asia
-
/kəˈlæps/
Pronunciation notes
- South-Asia
-
kəˈlæps
Verb
To break apart and fall down suddenly; to cave in.
Usage- Intransitive
- Examples
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The wall collapsed when it was hit by the wrecking ball.
A balloon collapses when the gas escapes from it.
To cease to function due to a sudden breakdown; to fail suddenly and completely.
Usage- Intransitive
- Synonyms
- Examples
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Pyramid schemes tend to generate profits for a while and then collapse.
More examples (1)
However much we like to think of ourselves as something special in world history, in fact industrial societies are subject to the same principles that caused earlier societies to collapse.
To fold compactly.
Usage- Intransitive
- Synonyms
To conflate, to ignore the distinctions between.
Usage- Figurative
- Transitive
In a hierarchical list (such as a directory tree or table of contents), to hide the subentries of (an entry).
Usage- Transitive
- Antonyms
To suffer a batting collapse.
Usage- Intransitive
- Examples
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Immediately after his wicket the team collapsed for 69.
To cause something to collapse.
Usage- Transitive
- Examples
-
Hurry up and collapse the tent so we can get moving.
Thomas added: "We presented our experiences of frantically trying to collapse a pram, surrounded by loads of grumpy commuters.
To pass out and fall to the floor or ground, as from exhaustion or other illness; to faint.
Usage- Intransitive
- Synonyms
- Examples
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The exhausted singer collapsed on stage and had to be taken to the hospital.
Noun
The act of collapsing.
Usage- Countable
- Uncountable
- Examples
-
She suffered a terrible collapse after slipping on the wet floor.
in a state of nervous collapse
More examples (2)
The top six are assured of continental competition and after making a statement of intent against Stoke, it would take a dramatic collapse for Newcastle to surrender their place.
However the collapse in demand for rail and air travel caused by the pandemic has had a knock-on effect for the project's funding.
Constant function, one-valued function (in automata theory) (in particular application causing a reset).
Usage- Countable
- Uncountable
Noun
an abrupt failure of function or complete physical exhaustion
- Synonyms
- Broader terms
- Examples
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the commander's prostration demoralized his men
a natural event caused by something suddenly falling down or caving in
- Broader terms
- Examples
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the roof is in danger of collapse
the collapse of the old star under its own gravity
the act of throwing yourself down; collapse; sink
- Synonyms
- Broader terms
- Examples
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he landed on the bed with a great flop
a sudden large decline of business or the prices of stocks (especially one that causes additional failures)
- Synonyms
- Broader terms
Verb
break down, literally or metaphorically
- Broader terms
- Examples
-
The wall collapsed
The business collapsed
More examples (4)
The dam broke
The roof collapsed
The wall gave in
The roof finally gave under the weight of the ice
collapse due to fatigue, an illness, or a sudden attack
- Synonyms
fold or close up
- Examples
-
fold up your umbrella
collapse the music stand
fall apart
- Synonyms
- Broader terms
- Examples
-
the building crumbled after the explosion
Negotiations broke down
cause to burst
- Synonyms
- Examples
-
The ice broke the pipe
suffer a nervous breakdown
lose significance, effectiveness, or value
- Broader terms
- Examples
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The school system is collapsing
The stock market collapsed