Collapse
Definition
Collapse is a noun and a verb. As a noun, it refers to a sudden failure or falling down of a structure or system. As a verb, it means to fall down suddenly, to fail completely, or to shrink or fold down.
Parts of Speech
- Noun
- Verb
Pronunciation
American English
- IPA Pronunciation: /kəˈlæps/
- Respelling: kuh-LAPS
British English
- IPA Pronunciation: /kəˈlæps/
- Respelling: kuh-LAPS
Etymology
The word "collapse" originates from the Latin "collapsus," which is the past participle of "collabi," meaning "to fall together." The term entered English in the 17th century with meanings related to structural and systemic failure.
Derivatives
- Collapsible (adjective)
- Collapsed (adjective)
- Collapsing (verb)
- Collapse-resistant (adjective)
- Re-collapse (verb)
Synonyms
- Fall
- Fail
- Crumble
Antonyms
- Build
- Strengthen
- Support
Usage
The noun "collapse" is used to describe sudden failure or breakdown, such as "The collapse of the bridge was sudden." As a verb, it is used to describe the action of falling or failing, such as "The building collapsed under the pressure."
Related Terms
- Fall: To drop or descend due to lack of support.
- Failure: A lack of success or breakdown of a structure or system.
- Disintegration: The process of breaking into smaller parts.
Detailed Definitions
Noun
- A sudden failure or breakdown: Refers to the complete failure of a structure, organization, or system.
- Example: "The financial collapse of the company was unexpected."
- The act of falling down suddenly: Used to describe a physical structure falling or giving way.
- Example: "The building's collapse caused significant damage."
Verb
- To fall down suddenly: Describes the action of physically falling or giving way under pressure.
- Example: "The tower collapsed during the storm."
- To fail completely: Refers to the breakdown of an organization, system, or plan.
- Example: "The negotiation process collapsed due to disagreements."
- To fold or shrink into a smaller size: Refers to compressing or folding a structure or object.
- Example: "The tent collapsed easily for storage."
collapse
The building began to collapse after the explosion.
He had a collapse due to extreme fatigue.
The stock market experienced a massive collapse.
🇨🇳 Mandarin
- 倒塌 (meaning: a structure falling down)
- IPA Pronunciation: /dɑʊ˨˩ ta˨˩˦/
- Respelling in English: dǎotā
- 崩溃 (meaning: a sudden failure or breakdown)
- IPA Pronunciation: /bəŋ˥˩ kwɐi˥˩/
- Respelling in English: bēngkuì
🇮🇳 Hindi
- ध्वस्त (meaning: a structure falling down)
- IPA Pronunciation: /dʱʋəst/
- Respelling in English: dhvast
- पतन (meaning: a sudden failure or downfall)
- IPA Pronunciation: /pətən/
- Respelling in English: patan
🇪🇸 Spanish
- Derrumbe (meaning: a structure falling down)
- IPA Pronunciation: /deˈrʊm.be/
- Respelling in English: derrumbe
- Colapso (meaning: a sudden failure or breakdown)
- IPA Pronunciation: /koˈlap.so/
- Respelling in English: colapso
🇫🇷 French
- Effondrement (meaning: a structure falling down)
- IPA Pronunciation: /e.fɔ̃d.mɑ̃/
- Respelling in English: effondrement
- Chute (meaning: a sudden failure or downfall)
- IPA Pronunciation: /ʃyt/
- Respelling in English: chute
🇸🇦 Modern Standard Arabic
- انهيار (meaning: a structure falling down or a sudden failure)
- IPA Pronunciation: /in.hiːˈjaːr/
- Respelling in English: inhīyār
🇧🇩 Bengali
- পতন (meaning: a structure falling down or a sudden failure)
- IPA Pronunciation: /poton/
- Respelling in English: poton
🇷🇺 Russian
- Обвал (meaning: a structure falling down)
- IPA Pronunciation: /ɐbˈval/
- Respelling in English: obval
- Крах (meaning: a sudden failure or breakdown)
- IPA Pronunciation: /krax/
- Respelling in English: krakh
🇵🇹 Portuguese
- Desabamento (meaning: a structure falling down)
- IPA Pronunciation: /ˌdɛza.bɐˈmẽtu/
- Respelling in English: desabamento
- Colapso (meaning: a sudden failure or breakdown)
- IPA Pronunciation: /kuˈlapsu/
- Respelling in English: colapso
🇮🇩 Indonesian
- Roboh (meaning: a structure falling down)
- IPA Pronunciation: /ˈro.boh/
- Respelling in English: roboh
- Kollapse (adopted from English "collapse", meaning: a sudden failure or breakdown)
- IPA Pronunciation: /kolˈlap.sə/
- Respelling in English: kollapse
🇩🇪 German
- Einsturz (meaning: a structure falling down)
- IPA Pronunciation: /ˈaɪn.ʃtʊʁts/
- Respelling in English: Einsturz
- Zusammenbruch (meaning: a sudden failure or breakdown)
- IPA Pronunciation: /t͡suːˈzam.bʁʊχ/
- Respelling in English: Zusammenbruch
🇯🇵 Japanese
- 崩壊 (meaning: a structure falling down or a sudden failure)
- IPA Pronunciation: /hoː.kai/
- Respelling in English: hōkai
🇻🇳 Vietnamese
- Sụp đổ (meaning: a structure falling down)
- IPA Pronunciation: /sʊp ˨˩ˀ ɗɔ˧˧/
- Respelling in English: sụp đổ
- Sụp (meaning: a sudden failure or breakdown)
- IPA Pronunciation: /sʊp˧˧/
- Respelling in English: sụp
🇰🇷 Korean
- 붕괴 (meaning: a structure falling down or a sudden failure)
- IPA Pronunciation: /buːŋ.gwe/
- Respelling in English: bunggwe
🇹🇷 Turkish
- Çökme (meaning: a structure falling down)
- IPA Pronunciation: /t͡ʃœkˈme/
- Respelling in English: çökme
- Çöküş (meaning: a sudden failure or downfall)
- IPA Pronunciation: /t͡ʃœˈkyʃ/
- Respelling in English: çöküş
🇵🇰 Urdu
- گرنا (meaning: a structure falling down)
- IPA Pronunciation: /gɪɾ.naː/
- Respelling in English: girnā
- خراب ہونا (meaning: a sudden failure or breakdown)
- IPA Pronunciation: /xəˈraːb ho.naː/
- Respelling in English: kharāb honā
