n. 崩溃, 倒塌, 虚脱

vi. 倒塌, 崩溃, 瓦解

vt. 使倒塌, 折叠

[计] 折叠

[化] 倒塌

[医] 虚脱; 萎陷

Collapse \Col*lapse"\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Collapsed}; p. pr. &
vb. n. {Collapsing}] [L. collapsus, p. p. of collabi to
collapse; col- + labi to fall, slide. See {Lapse}.]
1. 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.

A balloon collapses when the gas escapes from it.
--Maunder.

2. 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.


Collapse \Col*lapse"\, n.
1. A falling together suddenly, as of the sides of a hollow
vessel.

2. A sudden and complete failure; an utter failure of any
kind; a breakdown. [Colloq.]

3. (Med.) Extreme depression or sudden failing of all the
vital powers, as the result of disease, injury, or nervous
disturbance.