collapse

noun

UK /kəˈlæps/

Word Forms

singular	collapse
plural	collapses

1
uncountable a situation in which something fails or stops existing
The same economic problems had led to the collapse of the government.
be on the point/brink/verge of collapse:
The justice system was described as being on the point of collapse.
Synonyms and related words
Failure
fail
fiasco
debacle
2
uncountable an occasion when a building or other structure falls down
Synonyms and related words
Destruction and damage
damage
destruction
harm
3
countable/uncountable an occasion when someone falls down and becomes very ill or unconscious
Synonyms and related words
Losing and regaining consciousness
faint
pass out
knock out
4
singular a sudden fall in the value or level of something
the collapse of the rouble
Synonyms and related words
Rates of decrease and the process of decreasing
decrease
reduction
decline

phrases

in a state of collapse

collapse

noun

US /kəˈlæps/

Word Forms

singular	collapse
plural	collapses

1
uncountable a situation in which something fails or stops existing
The same economic problems had led to the collapse of the military government.
be on the point/brink/verge of collapse:
The justice system was described as being on the point of collapse.
Synonyms and related words
Failure
fail
fiasco
debacle
2
uncountable an occasion when a building or other structure falls down
Synonyms and related words
Destruction and damage
damage
destruction
harm
3
countable/uncountable an occasion when someone falls down and becomes very sick or unconscious
Synonyms and related words
Losing and regaining consciousness
faint
pass out
knock out
4
singular a sudden fall in the value or level of something
the collapse of the ruble
Synonyms and related words
Rates of decrease and the process of decreasing
decrease
reduction
decline

phrases

in a state of collapse

collapse

verb

UK /kəˈlæps/

Word Forms

present tense
I/you/we/they	collapse
he/she/it	collapses
present participle	collapsing
past tense	collapsed
past participle	collapsed

1
intransitive if a building or other structure collapses, it suddenly falls down
There were fears that the roof would collapse.
Synonyms and related words
To collapse or fall down
collapse
fall down
fall over
2
intransitive to suddenly fall down and become very ill or unconscious
A man had collapsed on the hospital steps.
I ended up collapsing with exhaustion.
Synonyms and related words
Losing and regaining consciousness
faint
pass out
knock out
1. 2a
  to let your body fall onto a chair, bed etc because you are very tired
  collapse in/into/onto:
  He collapsed in an exhausted heap.
  Synonyms and related words
  To sit or lie down
  bed down
  collapse
  cross your legs
3
intransitive to suddenly fail or stop existing
The trial collapsed amid allegations that officers fabricated evidence.
collapse under the strain/pressure:
The old system would have collapsed under the strain.
Synonyms and related words
To fail, or to stop being successful
fail
founder
languish
Synonyms and related words
To disappear, or to stop existing or happening
X has left the building
disappear
finish
4
intransitive an object that collapses can be folded or separated into parts, so that it takes up less space
The chairs collapse for easy storage.
Synonyms and related words
To change the width of something
widen
stretch
open out
1. 4a
  transitive to fold something, or to separate its parts, so that it takes up less space
  Synonyms and related words
  To fold or furl something
  fold
  fold up
  unfurl
5
intransitive/transitive to lose the air that is inside and become flat, or to make this happen
His heart was failing and one of his lungs had collapsed.
Synonyms and related words
To collapse or fall down
collapse
fall down
fall over
6
intransitive if you collapse into laughter, you start laughing in an uncontrolled way
Synonyms and related words
To laugh a lot or start laughing
burst out
crack up
dissolve into

collapse

verb

US /kəˈlæps/

Word Forms

present tense
I/you/we/they	collapse
he/she/it	collapses
present participle	collapsing
past tense	collapsed
past participle	collapsed

1
intransitive if a building or other structure collapses, it suddenly falls down
There were fears that the roof would collapse.
Synonyms and related words
To collapse or fall down
collapse
fall down
subside
2
intransitive to suddenly fail or stop existing
The trial collapsed amid allegations that officers fabricated evidence.
collapse under the strain/pressure:
The old system would have collapsed under the strain.
Synonyms and related words
To fail, or to stop being successful
fail
founder
languish
Synonyms and related words
To disappear, or to stop existing or happening
X has left the building
disappear
finish
3
intransitive to suddenly fall down and become very sick or unconscious
A man had collapsed on the hospital steps.
I ended up collapsing with exhaustion.
Synonyms and related words
Losing and regaining consciousness
faint
pass out
knock out
1. 3a
  to let your body fall onto a chair, bed, etc. because you are very tired
  collapse in/into/onto:
  He collapsed in an exhausted heap.
  Synonyms and related words
  To sit or lie down
  bed down
  bunk
  collapse
4
intransitive an object that collapses can be folded or separated into parts, so that it takes up less space
The chairs collapse for easy storage.
Synonyms and related words
To change the width of something
widen
stretch
open out
1. 4a
  transitive to fold something, or to separate its parts, so that it takes up less space
  Could you help me to collapse the table?
  Synonyms and related words
  To fold or furl something
  close
  fold up
  fold
5
intransitive/transitive to lose the air that is inside and become flat, or to make this happen
His heart was failing and one of his lungs had collapsed.
Synonyms and related words
To collapse or fall down
collapse
fall down
subside
6
intransitive if you collapse into laughter, you start laughing in an uncontrolled way
Synonyms and related words
To laugh a lot or start laughing
burst out
crack up
dissolve into

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