collapse

col|lapse1 [ kə`læps ] verb **

▸ 1 fall down suddenly

▸ 2 fail or stop existing

▸ 3 fall because sick/tired

▸ 4 be folded/taken apart

▸ 5 (make) lose air inside

▸ 6 start laughing

1. ) intransitive if a building or other structure collapses, it suddenly falls down:

There were fears that the roof would collapse.

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.

3. ) intransitive to suddenly fall down and become very sick or unconscious:

A man had collapsed.

I ended up collapsing with exhaustion.

a ) 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.

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.

a ) transitive to fold something or separate its parts, so that it takes up less space:

Could you help me to collapse the table?

5. ) intransitive or 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.

6. ) intransitive if you collapse into laughter, you start laughing in an uncontrolled way

collapse

col|lapse 2 [ kə`læps ] noun **

1. ) uncount 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.

2. ) uncount an occasion when a building or other structure falls down

3. ) count or uncount an occasion when someone falls down and becomes very sick or unconscious

4. ) singular a sudden fall in the value or level of something:

the collapse of the ruble

in a state of collapse

1. ) badly damaged or broken

2. ) very weak and ill

3. ) used about something such as an organization or system that has nearly stopped operating or existing