Collapsing

1 definition found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  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.
        [1913 Webster]
  
              A balloon collapses when the gas escapes from it.
                                                    --Maunder.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     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.
        [1913 Webster]