collapse
verb uk/kəˈlæps/ us/kəˈlæps/
(FALL)
B2 [ I ]（由于压力、无力或缺乏支持而）倒塌，坍塌;崩溃，垮掉
to fall down suddenly because of pressure or having no strength or support
Thousands of buildings collapsed in the earthquake. 数以千计的建筑物在地震中倒塌了。
The chair collapsed under her weight. 椅子承受不了她的重量散架了。
figurative He thought his whole world had collapsed when his wife died. 妻子去世后他觉得自己的整个世界都坍塌了。
B2 [ I ]（因疾病或虚弱而）倒下，昏倒
If someone collapses, they fall down because of being sick or weak.
He collapsed and died of a heart attack. 他心脏病发作，倒地而亡。
[ I or T ]（使）折叠（尤指家具）
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. 所有的椅子折叠起来以方便存放。
- More examples
- It looks as if the whole political edifice of the country is about to collapse.
- I should think you're about ready to collapse after all that walking.
- The building's foundations are rather shaky, and it could collapse at any time.
- At the end of the race his legs gave out and he collapsed on the ground.
- The woman staggered and collapsed in a heap.
(FAIL)
C2 [ I ]（人或企业）崩溃，垮掉，失败
(of people and business) to suddenly be unable to continue or work correctly
Lots of people lost their jobs when the property market collapsed. 房地产市场崩溃后，许多人丢了工作。
Talks between management and unions have collapsed. 劳资谈判彻底破裂。
Share prices collapsed (= became lower suddenly) after news of poor trading. 贸易不景气的消息传出后股价暴跌。
- More examples
- The company is staggering under a $15 million debt and will almost certainly collapse by the end of the year.
- Things have gone badly for him since his business collapsed.
- All charges against them were withdrawn after the prosecution's case collapsed.
- The talks have collapsed and both sides have resorted to brinkmanship.
- She'd invested extensively in stocks and got her fingers burned when the market collapsed.
collapse
noun uk/kəˈlæps/ us/kəˈlæps/
(FAILURE)
B2 [ C or U ]（系统、组织、企业等的）崩溃，瓦解，失败
the sudden failure of a system, organization, business, etc.
I don't know what caused the collapse of her marriage. 我不知道她婚姻失败的原因是什么。
A poor economy has caused the collapse of thousands of small businesses. 经济萧条导致数以千计的小型企业破产。
Negotiations between the two countries are on the brink/verge of collapse (= very soon going to fail). 两国的谈判濒临破裂。
He suffered a mental/nervous collapse after ten years' teaching. 执教10年后，他的精神／神经崩溃了。
- More examples
- The collapse of the company was described as the greatest financial debacle in US history.
- The collapse of Communism changed East-West relations for ever.
- The company is on the edge of collapse.
- The collapse of its rivals brought fortuitous gains to the company.
- The collapse of the bank is an ominous reminder of the fragility of the world's banking system.
(FALL)
[ S or U ]昏倒，昏迷;（建筑物的）倒塌，坍塌
the sudden falling movement of a person or structure that has become too weak to stand
He was taken to hospital after his collapse on the pitch. 他昏倒在赛场后被送往医院。
the collapse of a building during the earthquake 地震中一座大楼的倒塌