From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishcollapsecol‧lapse1 /kəˈlæps/ ●●○ S3 AWL verb 1 STRUCTUREFALLstructure [intransitive] if a building, wall etc collapses, it falls down suddenly, usually because it is weak or damaged Uncle Ted’s chair collapsed under his weight. The roof had collapsed long ago.► see thesaurus at fall2 ILLNESSUNCONSCIOUSillness/injury [intransitive] to suddenly fall down or become unconscious because you are ill or weak He collapsed with a heart attack while he was dancing. Marion’s legs collapsed under her.3 FAILfail [intransitive] if a system, idea, or organization collapses, it suddenly fails or becomes too weak to continue The luxury car market has collapsed. I thought that without me the whole project would collapse.4 prices [intransitive] if prices, levels etc collapse, they suddenly become much lower There were fears that property prices would collapse.5 SITsit/lie [intransitive] to suddenly sit down, especially because you are very tired or want to relax I was so exhausted when I got home, I just collapsed on the sofa. 6 MAKE something SMALLERFOLDfold something smaller [intransitive, transitive] if a piece of furniture or equipment collapses, or if you collapse it, you can fold it so that it becomes smaller → collapsible The legs on our card table collapse so we can store it in the closet.7 MEDICALmedical [intransitive]MI if a lung or a blood vessel collapses, it suddenly becomes flat, so that it no longer has any air or blood in it→ See Verb table
Examples from the Corpus
collapse• The building was badly damaged in the explosion, and rescue workers are worried that it may collapse.• His courage never faltered, but his health collapsed.• The external guarantees that formerly enabled the Vaudois to survive had largely collapsed.• We got up and ran about 50 yards, and I collapsed.• Come quickly, one of the passengers has collapsed.• Minutes later the second tower collapsed.• When the suit collapsed Aitken was charged with perjury, for which he served a seven-month jail term.• After half a dozen glasses of whisky he collapsed and could not be revived.• Part of the floor collapsed as a result of water damage.• The U.S. auto industry nearly collapsed due to increased foreign competition.• One of the horses collapsed from exhaustion after the race.• She finally took a break and collapsed in a chair.• A battle between the traders and the corporate financiers caused the firm to collapse in early 1984.• Our tent collapsed in the middle of the night.• Milligan collapsed into a chair, sighing deeply.• Please try not to upset or destroy this finely balanced mechanism or the building blocks will collapse like a row of dominoes.• Cohen was hospitalized after he collapsed on the floor and briefly lost consciousness.• Former Mayor Ed Koch collapsed this morning at a health club in midtown Manhattan.• When folded in this way, the map collapses to pocket size.• But his move to Old Trafford collapsed when the club medical revealed a knee problem.• The crest of his life collapsed with the Hotsy shooting.collapsecollapse2 ●●○ AWL noun 1 BUSINESS/SYSTEM/IDEA ETCFAILbusiness/system/idea etc [singular, uncountable] a sudden failure in the way something works, so that it cannot continuecollapse of the collapse of the Soviet Union the threat of economic collapse His business was in danger of collapse.2 BUILDING/STRUCTURE/FURNITURE ETCbuilding/structure/furniture etc [uncountable]FALL when something suddenly falls down the collapse of an apartment building during the earthquake The ancient abbey was in imminent danger of collapse.3 ILLNESSillness/injury [singular, uncountable]ILLNESS/DISEASE when someone suddenly falls down or becomes unconscious because of an illness or injury The president said he was fine after his collapse yesterday. She suffered a collapse under anaesthetic.4 MONEY/PRICES ETCmoney/prices etc [singular]LESS a sudden decrease in the value of something the collapse of the stock marketcollapse in a collapse in the value of pensionsExamples from the Corpus
collapse• None is big enough or bold enough to offset the negative effects of the financial collapse.• Gravitational collapse releases energy; and collapse to a single, dimensionless point releases an infinite amount of it.• The second-half collapse was subtle at first but sudden when it finally happened.• This is exactly the sort of collapse that keyed their six straight losses in the last two months of last season.• Buildings must be strengthened to prevent collapse from an earthquake.• Roy is recovering from last week's collapse.• After Stephen's sudden collapse during the meeting, he was rushed to the hospital.• Devoted to public order and financial stability, he presided over and accelerated the collapse of both.• For most of them the railway symbolized dispossession and in some cases the collapse of their traditional economies.• He was sued for his role in the collapse of Southwest Savings and Loan.• The collapse of Spinward has implications for the whole of the human-occupied galaxy.• the collapse of the stock market in 1987in danger of collapse• Without them sizable part of its economy would be in danger of collapse.• If so, the whole edifice so carefully reconstructed by Finnis is in danger of collapse.• Their falsehood puts it in danger of collapse.• Before the car could be moved, rescue workers had to shore up the building, which was in danger of collapse.From Longman Business Dictionarycollapsecol‧lapse1 /kəˈlæps/ verb [intransitive] if a company, organization, or system collapses, it suddenly fails or becomes too weak to continueWe did not want existing company pension schemes to collapse.→ See Verb tablecollapsecollapse2 noun [countable, uncountable] when a company, organization, or system suddenly fails or becomes too weak to continueThe province has become sadly familiar with news of redundancies and company collapses.Origin collapse1 (1700-1800) Latin collapsus, past participle of collabi, from com- ( → COM-) + labi “to fall, slide” 