collapse - English dictionary definition

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1. Collapse  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.
2. Collapse  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.
3. Collapse  A falling together suddenly, as of the sides of a hollow vessel.
4. Collapse  A sudden and complete failure; an utter failure of any kind; a breakdown.
5. Collapse  Extreme depression or sudden failing of all the vital powers, as the result of disease, injury, or nervous disturbance.