collapse
[kə'læps]
n. 崩溃, 倒塌, 虚脱

vi. 倒塌, 崩溃, 瓦解

vt. 使倒塌, 叠

[] 叠

[] 倒塌

[医] 虚脱; 萎陷

1. The wind caused the tent to collapse.
   把帐篷吹塌。
2. Talks between management and unions have collapsed.
   资谈判败。
3. The whole building collapsed.
   整建筑倒塌。

collapse
[ noun ]

1. an abrupt failure of function or complete physical exhaustion

<noun.state>
the commander's prostration demoralized his men

2. a natural event caused by something suddenly falling down or caving in

<noun.event>
the roof is in danger of collapse
the collapse of the old star under its own gravity

3. the act of throwing yourself down

<noun.act>
he landed on the bed with a great flop

4. a sudden large decline of business or the prices of stocks (especially one that causes additional failures)

<noun.event>

[ verb ]

1. break down, literally or metaphorically

<verb.motion> break cave in fall in founder give give way
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

2. collapse due to fatigue, an illness, or a sudden attack

<verb.body> break down

3. fold or close up

<verb.motion>
fold up your umbrella
collapse the music stand

4. fall apart

<verb.motion> break down crumble crumple tumble
the building crumbled after the explosion
Negotiations broke down

5. cause to burst

<verb.motion> burst
The ice broke the pipe

6. suffer a nervous breakdown

<verb.emotion> break up crack crack up crock up

7. lose significance, effectiveness, or value

<verb.change>
The school system is collapsing
The stock market 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 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.


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.