Collapse

v. i. [imp. & p. p. COLLAPSED; p. pr. & vb. n. COLLAPSING.] [Lat. collābi, collapsum, from con and lābi, to fall, slide.] To fall together suddenly, as the two sides of a hollow vessel; to close by falling or shrinking together; to shrink up; as, a tube in a steam-boiler collapses.

n. 1. A falling together suddenly, as of the sides of a hollow vessel. 2. (Med.) A sudden falling of the vital powers, as at the beginning or close of a disease. Dunglison.