collapse : Dictionary / Wörterbuch (BEOLINGUS, TU Chemnitz)

English Dictionary: collapse	by the DICT Development Group
3 results for collapse
From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]:
collapse n an abrupt failure of function or complete physical exhaustion; "the commander's prostration demoralized his men" Synonym(s): collapse, prostration a natural event caused by something suddenly falling down or caving in; "the roof is in danger of collapse"; "the collapse of the old star under its own gravity" the act of throwing yourself down; "he landed on the bed with a great flop" Synonym(s): flop, collapse a sudden large decline of business or the prices of stocks (especially one that causes additional failures) Synonym(s): crash, collapse v break down, literally or metaphorically; "The wall collapsed"; "The business collapsed"; "The dam broke"; "The roof collapsed"; "The wall gave in"; "The roof finally gave under the weight of the ice" Synonym(s): collapse, fall in, cave in, give, give way, break, founder collapse due to fatigue, an illness, or a sudden attack Synonym(s): break down, collapse fold or close up; "fold up your umbrella"; "collapse the music stand" fall apart; "the building crumbled after the explosion"; "Negotiations broke down" Synonym(s): crumble, crumple, tumble, break down, collapse cause to burst; "The ice broke the pipe" Synonym(s): collapse, burst suffer a nervous breakdown Synonym(s): crack up, crack, crock up, break up, collapse lose significance, effectiveness, or value; "The school system is collapsing"; "The stock market collapsed"
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
Collapse \Collapse"\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Collapsed}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Collapsing}] [L. collapsus, p. p. of collabi to collapse; col- + labi to fall, slide. See {Lapse}.] 1. 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. A balloon collapses when the gas escapes from it. --Maunder. 2. 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.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
Collapse \Col*lapse"\, n. 1. A falling together suddenly, as of the sides of a hollow vessel. 2. A sudden and complete failure; an utter failure of any kind; a breakdown. [Colloq.] 3. (Med.) Extreme depression or sudden failing of all the vital powers, as the result of disease, injury, or nervous disturbance.