collapsed
UK: kəˈlæpst | US: kəˈlæpst
v. (past tense/past participle of collapse)
- To fall down or inward suddenly; give way.
- To break down or fail completely.
- To fold or compress something into a smaller space.
collapse = col<together> + lapse<fall/slip>
- col<together>: From Latin com- (a variant of con-), meaning "together" or "with."
- lapse<fall/slip>: From Latin lapsus, meaning "a fall" or "slip," derived from labi ("to glide, fall").
Etymology Origin:
The word collapse originates from Latin collapsus, the past participle of collabi ("to fall together"). The prefix col- (assimilated form of com-) emphasizes the idea of things falling "together" or collapsing inward, while lapse conveys the action of slipping or falling. This combination vividly depicts a sudden, unified failure or breakdown, whether physical (e.g., a building) or abstract (e.g., a system).
The old bridge collapsed under the weight of the heavy truck.
After running the marathon, she collapsed onto the grass.
The company collapsed due to financial mismanagement.
He collapsed the folding chair and stored it in the closet.
Negotiations collapsed when neither side would compromise.