collapse
verb
uk/kəˈlæps/us/kəˈlæps/collapseverb(FALL)
B2[I]
tofalldownsuddenlybecause ofpressureor having nostrengthorsupport:
（由于压力、无力或缺乏支持而）倒塌，坍塌；崩溃，垮掉Thousands ofbuildingscollapsed in theearthquake.数以千计的建筑物在地震中倒塌了。
Thechaircollapsedunderherweight.椅子承受不了她的重量散架了。
figurativeHethoughthiswholeworldhad collapsed when hiswifedied.妻子去世后他觉得自己的整个世界都坍塌了。
to go down onto the ground suddenly
- fallShe slipped and fell.
- dropSeveral apples dropped from the tree.
- collapseSeveral buildings collapsed in the earthquake.
- crumpleHe fainted and crumpled into a heap on the floor.
- tumbleA huge rock tumbled down the mountain.
- plungeFour of the mountaineers plunged to their deaths when their ropes broke.
B2[I]
If someone collapses, theyfalldown because of beingsickorweak:
（因疾病或虚弱而）倒下，昏倒He collapsed anddiedof aheartattack.他心脏病发作，倒地而亡。
[IorT]
tofoldsomething into asmallershape, usually so it can bestored, or (especiallyoffurniture) tofoldin this way:
（使）折叠（尤指家具）Allchairscollapse foreasystorage.所有的椅子折叠起来以方便存放。
- Itlooksas if thewholepoliticaledificeof thecountryis about to collapse.
- I shouldthinkyou're aboutreadyto collapse after all thatwalking.
- The building'sfoundationsarerathershaky, and it could collapse at anytime.
- At the end of theracehislegsgave out and he collapsed on theground.
- The womanstaggeredand collapsed in aheap.
Falling and dropping
- ass
- collapse/fall in a heapidiom
- cropper
- crumple
- drop
- drop like fliesidiom
- faceplant
- fall away
- fly
- let goidiom
- mic drop
- nosedive
- overbalance
- parachutist
- plunge
- pratfall
- shower
- thump
- trip
- wayside
You can also find related words, phrases, and synonyms in the topics:
Losing consciousness
Making things more or less smooth or straight
collapseverb(FAIL)
C2[I]
(ofpeopleandbusiness) tosuddenlybeunabletocontinueorworkcorrectly:
（人或企业）崩溃，垮掉，失败Lots ofpeoplelosttheirjobswhen thepropertymarketcollapsed.房地产市场崩溃后，许多人丢了工作。
Talks betweenmanagementandunionshave collapsed.劳资谈判彻底破裂。
Sharepricescollapsed(=becamelowersuddenly)afternewsofpoortrading.贸易不景气的消息传出后股价暴跌。
to stop operating permanently
- close downWith sales down, the company closed one factory down and reduced the workforce at another.
- closeMany of the shops in the High Street have closed recently.
- shut downThe bookshop is shutting down after 25 years of business.
- shutUKSeveral of the bank's local branches are shutting.
- shut up shopUKThe seaside businesses all shut up shop during the winter.
- go/put out of businessMy favourite ice cream shop went out of business last summer.
- Thecompanyisstaggeringunder a $15 milliondebtand willalmostcertainlycollapse by the end of theyear.
- Things have gonebadlyfor him since hisbusinesscollapsed.
- Allchargesagainst them werewithdrawnafter the prosecution'scasecollapsed.
- Thetalkshave collapsed and bothsideshave resorted tobrinkmanship.
- She'dinvestedextensivelyinstocksand got herfingersburnedwhen themarketcollapsed.
Failing and doing badly
- abjectly
- at-risk
- backbencher
- balls(something)up
- be on your beam endsidiom
- blow
- blow(someone/something)up
- bomb
- fall to piecesidiom
- fight a losing battleidiom
- flog
- flog a dead horseidiom
- flop
- founder
- rebound
- rot
- running on emptyidiom
- sclerotic
- smoke
- the rot sets inidiom
You can also find related words, phrases, and synonyms in the topics:
Success & failure in business
collapse
noun
uk/kəˈlæps/us/kəˈlæps/collapsenoun(FAILURE)
B2[CorU]
thesuddenfailureof asystem,organization,business, etc.:
（系统、组织、企业等的）崩溃，瓦解，失败I don'tknowwhatcausedthe collapseofhermarriage.我不知道她婚姻失败的原因是什么。
Apooreconomyhascausedthe collapseofthousands ofsmallbusinesses.经济萧条导致数以千计的小型企业破产。
Negotiations between the twocountriesareon thebrink/vergeofcollapse(= verysoongoing tofail).两国的谈判濒临破裂。
Hesufferedamental/nervouscollapse after tenyears'teaching.执教10年后，他的精神／神经崩溃了。
the fact of not being successful
- failureFailure is not an option.
- breakdownThe complete breakdown of local infrastructure left residents without water or electricity.
- meltdownThe markets experienced a meltdown at the news of the sale.
- collapseThe car manufacturer's collapse left the region's economy in tatters.
- failHe tried to sing the anthem, but it was an epic fail.
- The collapse of thecompanywasdescribedas thegreatestfinancialdebaclein UShistory.
- The collapse ofCommunismchangedEast-Westrelationsforever.
- Thecompanyis on theedgeof collapse.
- The collapse ofitsrivalsbroughtfortuitousgainsto thecompany.
- The collapse of thebankis anominousreminderof thefragilityof the world'sbankingsystem.
Failures
- another/the final nail in the coffinidiom
- bloodbath
- brain freeze
- breakdown
- busted flush
- car crash
- flop
- foul(something)up
- freefall
- game overidiom
- hash
- lemon
- lost cause
- mess
- parody
- reversal
- slim pickings
- slush pile
- track record
- train wreck
collapsenoun(FALL)
[SorU]
thesuddenfallingmovementof apersonorstructurethat hasbecometooweaktostand:
昏倒，昏迷；（建筑物的）倒塌，坍塌He was taken tohospitalafter his collapse on thepitch.他昏倒在赛场后被送往医院。
the collapse of abuildingduring theearthquake地震中一座大楼的倒塌
Falling and dropping
- ass
- collapse/fall in a heapidiom
- cropper
- crumple
- drop
- drop like fliesidiom
- faceplant
- fall away
- fly
- let goidiom
- mic drop
- nosedive
- overbalance
- parachutist
- plunge
- pratfall
- shower
- thump
- trip
- wayside