Definition of "collapse"

collapse

/k(ə)ˈlæps/

verb
third-person singular simple present collapses, present participle collapsing, simple past and past participle collapsed
1. (intransitive) To break apart and fall down suddenly; to cave in.
  Quotations
  A balloon collapses when the gas escapes from it.
  1843, Samuel Maunder, The Scientific and Literary Treasury
2. (intransitive) To cease to function due to a sudden breakdown; to fail suddenly and completely.
3. (intransitive) To fold compactly.
4. (transitive, computing) To hide additional directory (folder) levels below the selected directory (folder) levels. When a folder contains no additional folders, a minus sign (-) appears next to the folder.
5. (cricket) For several batsmen to get out in quick succession
6. (transitive) To cause something to collapse.
  Quotations
  Thomas added: "We presented our experiences of frantically trying to collapse a pram, surrounded by loads of grumpy commuters.
  2023 August 9, Paul Clifton, “Network News: Family-friendly travel: new standard covers pushchairs”, in RAIL, number 989, page 26
7. (intransitive) To pass out and fall to the floor or ground, as from exhaustion or other illness; to faint.
noun
countable and uncountable, plural collapses
1. The act of collapsing.
  Quotations
  The top six are assured of continental competition and after making a statement of intent against Stoke, it would take a dramatic collapse for Newcastle to surrender their place.
  2012 April 21, Jonathan Jurejko, “Newcastle 3-0 Stoke”, in BBC Sport‎
  However the collapse in demand for rail and air travel caused by the pandemic has had a knock-on effect for the project's funding.
  2021 May 5, Paul Clifton, “Network News: Heathrow Western Rail Access scheme 'on hold'”, in RAIL, number 930, page 26
2. Constant function, one-valued function (in automata theory) (in particular application causing a reset).

Definition of "collapse"

collapse

verb

Quotations

Quotations

noun

Quotations