collapse */*/

I UK [kəˈlæps] / US verb
Word forms "collapse":
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.

2)

a) [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.

b) 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.

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.

4)

a) [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.

b) [transitive] to fold something, or to separate its parts, so that it takes up less space

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.

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

II UK [kəˈlæps] / US noun
Word forms "collapse":
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.

2) [uncountable] an occasion when a building or other structure falls down

3) [countable/uncountable] an occasion when someone falls down and becomes very ill or unconscious

4) [singular] a sudden fall in the value or level of something

the collapse of the rouble

•

- in a state of collapse