/ kəˈlæps; NAmE / verb , noun
■ verb
OF BUILDING
1.
[ v ] to fall down or fall in suddenly, often after breaking apart
SYN give way :
The roof collapsed under the weight of snow.
OF SICK PERSON
2.
[ v ] to fall down (and usually become unconscious), especially because you are very ill / sick :
He collapsed in the street and died two hours later.
RELAX
3.
[ v ] ( informal ) to sit or lie down and relax, especially after working hard :
When I get home I like to collapse on the sofa and listen to music.
FAIL
4.
[ v ] to fail suddenly or completely
SYN break down :
Talks between management and unions have collapsed.
All opposition to the plan has collapsed.
OF PRICES / CURRENCIES
5.
[ v ] to decrease suddenly in amount or value :
Share prices collapsed after news of poor trading figures.
FOLD
6.
to fold sth into a shape that uses less space; to be able to be folded in this way
SYN fold up :
[ v ]
The table collapses for easy storage.
[also vn ]
MEDICAL
7.
[ v , vn ] if a lung or blood vessel collapses or is collapsed , it falls in and becomes flat and empty
► col·lapsed adjective :
collapsed buildings
a collapsed investment bank
a collapsed lung
■ noun
FAILURE
1.
[ C , usually sing. , U ] a sudden failure of sth, such as an institution, a business or a course of action :
the collapse of law and order in the area
The peace talks were on the verge of collapse .
OF BUILDING
2.
[ U ] the action of a building suddenly falling :
The walls were strengthened to protect them from collapse.
ILLNESS
3.
[ U , C , usually sing. ] a medical condition when a person suddenly becomes very ill / sick, or when sb falls because they are ill / sick or weak :
a state of mental / nervous collapse
She was taken to hospital after her collapse at work.
OF PRICES / CURRENCIES
4.
[ C , usually sing. ] a sudden fall in value :
the collapse of share prices / the dollar / the market
••
WORD ORIGIN
early 17th cent. (as collapsed ): from medical Latin collapsus , past participle of collabi , from col- together + labi to slip.