collapse

To break and fall down suddenly.

• The roof collapsed last night.
• The bridge could collapse under that weight.
• Several walls collapsed during the earthquake.

Similar words: fall down, cave in

Common phrases: bridge collapse, roof collapse, collapse suddenly

To stop working or fail suddenly and completely.

• Their business collapsed within a year.
• Peace talks collapsed after the argument.
• The whole system could collapse without support.

Similar words: fail, break down

Common phrases: collapse completely, talks collapse, economy collapse

To make something fall down or fold into a smaller shape.

• You can collapse the chair for storage.
• We collapsed the tent before leaving.
• Press this button to collapse the frame.

Similar words: fold up

Common phrases: collapse a tent, collapse the frame, collapse a chair

A sudden fall or complete failure of something.

• The collapse left a pile of bricks.
• Nobody predicted the collapse of the company.
• Engineers are investigating the bridge collapse.

How to use it: collapse of something (The collapse of the roof damaged several cars.)

Similar words: breakdown, failure

Common phrases: sudden collapse, economic collapse, collapse of something