collapse

verb
UK: /kəˈlæps/
US: /kəˈlæps/

  1. To fall down or break apart suddenly.

    1. The old building could collapse at any moment. [ ] [ ]
    2. Due to structural weakness, part of the roof did collapse unexpectedly. [ ] [ ]

  2. To fail or stop working suddenly.

    1. The deal did collapse at the last minute. [ ] [ ]
    2. Negotiations between the companies did collapse because of disagreements. [ ] [ ]

  3. To fold something into a smaller shape.

    1. You can collapse the tent for easier storage. [ ] [ ]
    2. I watched him collapse the cardboard box before putting it away. [ ] [ ]

Synonyms

breakdown crumble failure implode fall
collapse noun

  1. A sudden fall or failure.

    1. The bridge's collapse was a major disaster. [ ] [ ]
    2. The stock market faced collapse during the financial crisis. [ ] [ ]

  2. The act of something folding into a smaller shape.

    1. The chair has a simple collapse mechanism. [ ] [ ]
    2. The quick collapse of the stroller makes it easy to store. [ ] [ ]

Frequently Asked Questions

The word "collapse" in English means: To fall down or break apart suddenly., To fail or stop working suddenly., To fold something into a smaller shape..

The phonetic transcription of "collapse" is /kəˈlæps/ in British English and /kəˈlæps/ in American English. Click the 🔊 button to hear both pronunciations.

Synonyms for "collapse": breakdown, crumble, failure, implode, fall.

Example usage of "collapse": "The old building could collapse at any moment.". More examples on the page.