Thesaurus: collapse

Related headwords

Definitions

1. v. i. 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.
2. v. i. 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.
3. n. A falling together suddenly, as of the sides of a hollow vessel.
4. n. A sudden and complete failure; an utter failure of any kind; a breakdown.
5. n. Extreme depression or sudden failing of all the vital powers, as the result of disease, injury, or nervous disturbance.
6. n. an abrupt failure of function or complete physical exhaustion
7. n. a natural event caused by something suddenly falling down or caving in
8. n. the act of throwing yourself down; collapse; sink
9. n. a sudden large decline of business or the prices of stocks (especially one that causes additional failures)
10. v. break down, literally or metaphorically
11. v. collapse due to fatigue, an illness, or a sudden attack
12. v. fold or close up