Hypertext Webster Gateway: "collapse"
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Collapse \Col*lapse"\, 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.
From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)
collapse
n 1: an abrupt failure of function or health
2: a mishap caused by something suddenly falling down or caving
in
3: the act of throwing yourself down; "he landed on the bed
with a great flop" [syn: {flop}]
4: a sudden large decline of business or the prices of stocks
(especially one that causes additional failures) [syn: {crash}]
v 1: 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" [syn: {fall in},
{cave in}, {give}, {give way}, {break}, {founder}]
2: collapse due to fatigue, an illness, or a sudden attack
[syn: {break down}]
3: fold or close up, as of an umbrella or a music stand
4: fall apart; also used metaphorically: "Negociations broke
down" [syn: {crumble}, {crumple}, {tumble}, {break down}]
5: cause to burst; "The ice broke the pipe" [syn: {burst}]
6: suffer a nervous breakdown [syn: {crack up}, {crack}, {crock
up}, {break up}]
7: lose significance, effectiveness, or value; "The school
system is collapsing"; "The stock market collapsed"
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