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Webster 1913 Edition

Collapse

Col-lapse′

,
Verb.
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
.

Col-lapse′

,
Noun.
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.

Webster 1828 Edition

Collapse

COLLAPSE

,
Verb.
I.
To fall together, as the two sides of a vessel; to close by falling together; as, the fine canals or vessels of the body collapse in old age.

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