col|lapse

col|lapse
col|lapse «kuh LAPS», verb, -lapsed, -laps|ing, noun.
–v.i.
1. to fall in; shrink together suddenly; cave in: »

Sticking a pin into the balloon caused it to collapse. The roof collapsed as a result of the fire.

2. to fold up and become compact: »

This telescope collapses to half its size.

3. Figurative. to break down; fail suddenly: »

His business collapsed when his health gave out. The labor and management negotiations collapsed after several meetings.

4. to become deflated: »

The patient's lungs collapsed.

–v.t.
to fold or push together; cause to collapse; deflate: »

to collapse a telescope, collapse a lung.

–n.
1. a falling in; sudden shrinking together: »

A heavy flood caused the collapse of the bridge.

2. Figurative. a breakdown; failure: »

The depression caused many business collapses.

3. Figurative. physical or nervous exhaustion; prostration: »

He sank upon the ground in a collapse of misery (Cardinal Newman).

[< Latin collāpsus, past participle of collābī fall in ruins < com- completely + lābī fall]

Useful english dictionary. 2012.

Игры ⚽ Нужно решить контрольную?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • col·lapse — col|·lap|se Mot Pla Nom masculí …   Diccionari Català-Català

  • lapse — de·lapse; lapse; col·lapse; il·lapse; pro·lapse; re·lapse; …   English syllables

  • Col. Manyakis — Tomas and Lt. Col. Violeta Kainam on the rear cover of Pugad Baboy Eight. Col. Manyakis is an adventure story arc of the Philippine comic strip series Pugad Baboy, created by Pol Medina, Jr. and originally published in the Philippine Daily… …   Wikipedia

  • collapse — col·lapse …   English syllables

  • collapse — col•lapse [[t]kəˈlæps[/t]] v. lapsed, laps•ing, n. 1) to fall or cave in; crumble suddenly 2) to be made so that sections or parts can be folded up, as for storage 3) to break down; fail utterly: The peace talks have collapsed[/ex] 4) to fall… …   From formal English to slang

  • collapse — col|lapse1 [ kə læps ] verb ** ▸ 1 fall down suddenly ▸ 2 fail or stop existing ▸ 3 fall because sick/tired ▸ 4 be folded/taken apart ▸ 5 (make) lose air inside ▸ 6 start laughing 1. ) intransitive if a building or other structure collapses, it… …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • collapse — 1. A condition of extreme prostration, similar or identical to hypovolemic shock and due to the same causes. 2. A state of profound physical depression. 3. A falling together of the walls of a structure. 4. The failure of a physiologic …   Medical dictionary

  • 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 …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Collapsed — 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… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Collapsing — 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… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”