Lexic.us

Definition of Collapse

1. Noun. An abrupt failure of function or complete physical exhaustion. "The commander's prostration demoralized his men"

2. Verb. Break down, literally or metaphorically. "The business is going to collapse "; "The roof finally gave under the weight of the ice"

3. Noun. A natural event caused by something suddenly falling down or caving in. "The collapse of the old star under its own gravity"

4. Verb. Collapse due to fatigue, an illness, or a sudden attack. "Sam and Sue collapse"

5. Noun. The act of throwing yourself down. ; "He landed on the bed with a great flop"

6. Verb. Fold or close up. "Collapse the music stand"

7. Noun. A sudden large decline of business or the prices of stocks (especially one that causes additional failures).

8. Verb. Fall apart. "The business is going to collapse "; "Negotiations broke down"

9. Verb. Cause to burst. "The ice broke the pipe"

10. Verb. Suffer a nervous breakdown.

11. Verb. Lose significance, effectiveness, or value. "The stock market collapsed"

Definition of Collapse

1. v. i. 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.

2. n. A falling together suddenly, as of the sides of a hollow vessel.

Definition of Collapse

1. Verb. (intransitive) To fall down suddenly; to cave in ¹

2. Verb. (intransitive) To cease to function due to a sudden breakdown ¹

3. Verb. (intransitive) To fold compactly ¹

4. Verb. (cricket) For several batsmen to get out in quick succession ¹

5. Verb. (transitive) To cause something to collapse. ¹

6. Verb. (intransitive) To pass out and fall to the floor or ground, as from exhaustion or other illness; to faint ¹

7. Noun. The act of collapsing ¹

8. Noun. Constant function, one-valued function (in automata theory) (in particular application causing a reset) ¹

¹ Source: wiktionary.com

Definition of Collapse

1. to crumble suddenly [v -LAPSED, -LAPSING, -LAPSES]

Medical Definition of Collapse

1. 1. A state of extreme prostration and depression, with failure of circulation. 2. Abnormal falling in of the walls of any part of organ. Origin: L. Collapsus This entry appears with permission from the Dictionary of Cell and Molecular Biology (11 Mar 2008)

Lexicographical Neighbors of Collapse

collagenosis collagenous collagenous pneumoconiosis collagens collages collagey collagic collaging collagist collagists

collagraphy collapsable collapsar collapsars collapse (current term) collapse delirium collapse of dental arch collapse therapy collapsed collapses

collapsibility collapsible collapsible shelter collapsin collapsing collapsing pulse collapsion collapsions collapsogram

Literary usage of Collapse

Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:

1. Monographic Medicine by William Robie Patten Emerson, Guido Guerrini, William Brown, Wendell Christopher Phillips, John Whitridge Williams, John Appleton Swett, Hans Günther, Mario Mariotti, Hugh Grant Rowell (1916)
"(b) collapse Delirium In the deliria of convalescence (collapse delirium, ... These collapse deliria may last a long time (weeks or months), ..."

2. The Practitioner by Gale Group, ProQuest Information and Learning Company (1878)
"In sixteen cases of cholera, all in profound collapse, blue, cold, shrivelled, and pulseless, some with rapid irregular and difficult breathing, ..."

3. Text-book of Ophthalmology by Ernst Fuchs (1911)
"collapse of the cornea was formerly looked upon as an evil event, because it prevent.* .the precise apposition of the lips of the wound, and it was supposed ..."

4. Proceedings by American Society of Civil Engineers (1904)
"This Society is not responsible, as a body, for the facts and opinions advanced in any of its publications. THE collapse OF A BUILDING DURING CONSTRUCTION. ..."

5. The Journal of Physiology by Physiological Society (Great Britain). (1889)
"I may add that the tetanus following collapse of one lung under such conditions is seldom so long as on Curve viii, Plate II which has been chosen for its ..."

6. Science by American Association for the Advancement of Science (1883)
"If submarine flows were associated with the Fernandina collapse, they displayed ... The 1968 collapse was only the most recent of several such episodes on ..."

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