v.
- (of a structure) suddenly fall down or give way.
▸
[usu. as adj. collapsed]
(of a lung or blood vessel) fall inwards and become flat and empty.
- fall down as a result of illness or injury.
- fail suddenly and completely.
n.
- an instance of a structure collapsing.
- a sudden failure or breakdown.
Etymology
C17: from medical L. collaps-, collabi, from col- ‘together’ + labi ‘to slip’.