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collapse

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collapse

 

  3  definitions  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Collapse  \Col*lapse"\,  v.  i.  [imp.  &  p.  p.  {Collapsed};  p.  pr  & 
  vb  n.  {Collapsing}]  [L.  collapsus  p.  p.  of  collabi  to 
  collapse;  col-  +  labi  to  fall,  slide.  See  {Lapse}.] 
  1.  To  fall  together  suddenly,  as  the  sides  of  a  hollow 
  vessel;  to  close  by  falling  or  shrinking  together;  to  have 
  the  sides  or  parts  of  (a  thing)  fall  in  together,  or  be 
  crushed  in  together;  as  a  flue  in  the  boiler  of  a  steam 
  engine  sometimes  collapses. 
 
  A  balloon  collapses  when  the  gas  escapes  from  it 
  --Maunder. 
 
  2.  To  fail  suddenly  and  completely,  like  something  hollow 
  when  subject  to  too  much  pressure;  to  undergo  a  collapse; 
  as  Maximilian's  government  collapsed  soon  after  the 
  French  army  left  Mexico;  many  financial  projects  collapse 
  after  attaining  some  success  and  importance. 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Collapse  \Col*lapse"\,  n. 
  1.  A  falling  together  suddenly,  as  of  the  sides  of  a  hollow 
  vessel. 
 
  2.  A  sudden  and  complete  failure;  an  utter  failure  of  any 
  kind  a  breakdown.  [Colloq.] 
 
  3.  (Med.)  Extreme  depression  or  sudden  failing  of  all  the 
  vital  powers,  as  the  result  of  disease,  injury,  or  nervous 
  disturbance. 
 
  From  WordNet  r  1.6  [wn]: 
 
  collapse 
  n  1:  an  abrupt  failure  of  function  or  health 
  2:  a  mishap  caused  by  something  suddenly  falling  down  or  caving 
  in 
  3:  the  act  of  throwing  yourself  down  "he  landed  on  the  bed 
  with  a  great  flop"  [syn:  {flop}] 
  4:  a  sudden  large  decline  of  business  or  the  prices  of  stocks 
  (especially  one  that  causes  additional  failures)  [syn:  {crash}] 
  v  1:  break  down  literally  or  metaphorically;  "The  wall 
  collapsed";  "The  business  collapsed";  "The  dam  broke"; 
  "The  roof  collapsed";  "The  wall  gave  in";  "The  roof 
  finally  gave  under  the  weight  of  the  ice"  [syn:  {fall  in}, 
  {cave  in},  {give},  {give  way},  {break},  {founder}] 
  2:  collapse  due  to  fatigue,  an  illness,  or  a  sudden  attack 
  [syn:  {break  down}] 
  3:  fold  or  close  up  as  of  an  umbrella  or  a  music  stand 
  4:  fall  apart;  also  used  metaphorically:  "Negociations  broke 
  down"  [syn:  {crumble},  {crumple},  {tumble},  {break  down}] 
  5:  cause  to  burst;  "The  ice  broke  the  pipe"  [syn:  {burst}] 
  6:  suffer  a  nervous  breakdown  [syn:  {crack  up},  {crack},  {crock 
  up},  {break  up}] 
  7:  lose  significance,  effectiveness,  or  value;  "The  school 
  system  is  collapsing";  "The  stock  market  collapsed"




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