|  collapse 
  
 
 1. an abrupt failure of function or complete physical exhaustion (Freq. 3)
 - the commander's prostration demoralized his men
 • Syn:
 prostration
 • Hypernyms:
 illness, unwellness, malady, sickness
 • Hyponyms:
 breakdown, crack-up, shock, heatstroke, heat hyperpyrexia, algidity
 2. a natural event caused by something suddenly falling down or caving in (Freq. 2)
 - the roof is in danger of collapse
 - the collapse of the old star under its own gravity
 • Hypernyms:
 happening, occurrence, occurrent, natural event
 • Hyponyms:
 cave in, subsidence, debacle, fiasco, implosion
 3. the act of throwing yourself down (Freq. 1)
 - he landed on the bed with a great flop
 • Syn:
 flop
 • Derivationally related forms:
 floppy (for: flop), flop (for: flop)
 • Hypernyms:
 descent
 4. a sudden large decline of business or the prices of stocks (especially one that causes additional failures)
 • Syn:
 crash
 • Derivationally related forms:
 crash (for: crash)
 • Hypernyms:
 happening, occurrence, occurrent, natural event
 
 1. break down, literally or metaphorically (Freq. 8)
 - 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
 • Syn:
 fall in, cave in, give, give way, break, founder
 • Derivationally related forms:
 cave in (for: cave in)
 • Hypernyms:
 change
 • Hyponyms:
 implode, go off, buckle, crumple, flop,
 break, slump, slide down, sink
 • Verb Group:
 abandon, give up, burst
 • Verb Frames:
 - Something ----s
 - Somebody ----s
 - The business is going to collapse
 2. collapse due to fatigue, an illness, or a sudden attack (Freq. 6)
 • Syn:
 break down
 • Derivationally related forms:
 breakdown (for: break down)
 • Hypernyms:
 suffer, sustain, have, get
 • Hyponyms:
 drop like flies, fall over, go over
 • Verb Frames:
 - Somebody ----s
 - Sam and Sue collapse
 3. fold or close up
 - fold up your umbrella
 - collapse the music stand
 • Derivationally related forms:
 collapsible
 • Hypernyms:
 fold, fold up, turn up
 • Hyponyms:
 deflate, concertina
 • Verb Frames:
 - Something ----s
 - Somebody ----s something
 4. fall apart
 - the building crumbled after the explosion
 - Negotiations broke down
 • Syn:
 crumble, crumple, tumble, break down
 • Hypernyms:
 change integrity
 • Verb Frames:
 - Something ----s
 5. cause to burst
 - The ice broke the pipe
 • Syn:
 burst
 • Hyponyms:
 pop
 • Verb Group:
 fall in, cave in, give, give way, break, founder
 • Cause:
 fall in, cave in, give, give way, break, founder
 • Verb Frames:
 - Somebody ----s something
 - Something ----s something
 6. suffer a nervous breakdown
 • Syn:
 crack up, crack, crock up, break up
 • Derivationally related forms:
 crack-up (for: crack up)
 • Hypernyms:
 suffer, sustain, have, get
 • Verb Frames:
 - Somebody ----s
 7. lose significance, effectiveness, or value
 - The school system is collapsing
 - The stock market collapsed
 • Hypernyms:
 weaken
 • Verb Frames:
 - Something ----s
 
 
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