collapse

The word “collapse” means to fall down or cave in suddenly. In plain terms, falling down suddenly, whether it's a building, a plan, a business, or a person.

“Collapse” is pronounced kuh-LAPS (/kəˈlæps/ in IPA).

Here is “collapse” used in a sentence: “The old bridge collapsed under the weight of the truck.”

“Collapse” is a verb.

The word “collapse” comes from Latin. From Latin collapsus, the past participle of collabor, meaning "to fall together".

“Collapse” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.

“Collapse” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to fall down or cave in suddenly.

To collapse is to fall down or cave in suddenly, often because a structure or system gives way, while to fall is the more general act of dropping or coming down. Collapse suggests a sudden, complete failure of support, as when a building or a person collapses. A fall can be gentle or partial, but a collapse implies a breakdown.

Collapse means to fall down or cave in suddenly, usually all at once, while crumble means to break gradually into small pieces. A wall can collapse in one moment or crumble slowly over time. Collapse stresses sudden failure, whereas crumble stresses gradual disintegration.

Yes, a person can collapse, meaning they fall down suddenly, often from exhaustion, illness, or fainting. This uses the literal sense of falling down suddenly. It usually signals a medical or physical crisis rather than a slow decline.