collapse

verb (FALL)

/kəˈlæps/

Definition

B2 [I] to fall down suddenly because of pressure or having no strength or support: Thousands of buildings collapsed in the earthquake. The chair collapsed under her weight.figurative He thought his whole world had collapsed when his wife died.Falling and droppingMoving downwards B2 [I] If someone collapses, they fall down because they are ill or weak: He collapsed and died of a heart attack.Losing consciousness › [I or T] to fold something into a smaller shape, usually so it can be stored, or (especially of furniture) to fold in this way: All chairs collapse for easy storage.Making things more or less smooth or straight

(Definition of collapse verb (FALL) from the Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary & Thesaurus © Cambridge University Press)