COLLAPSE

noun a falling together suddenly, as of the sides of a hollow vessel.

2. collapse ·noun a sudden and complete failure; an utter failure of any kind; a breakdown.

3. collapse ·noun extreme depression or sudden failing of all the vital powers, as the result of disease, injury, or nervous disturbance.

4. collapse ·vi to fall together suddenly, as the sides of a hollow vessel; to close by falling or shrinking together; to have the sides or parts of (a thing) fall in together, or be crushed in together; as, a flue in the boiler of a steam engine sometimes collapses.

5. collapse ·vi to fail suddenly and completely, like something hollow when subject to too much pressure; to undergo a collapse; as, maximilian's government collapsed soon after the french army left mexico; many financial projects collapse after attaining some success and importance.