Definition of collapse

The word "collapse" has its roots in Latin. The Latin word "collapso" means "to fall together" or "to fall suddenly," which is a combination of "collum," meaning "neck" or "shoulder," and "lapso," meaning "to fall." This Latin word was later borrowed into Middle English as "collapsen," which meant "to fall together" or "to break suddenly." The meaning of the word expanded to include the sense of something giving way or falling apart, such as a building collapsing under its own weight. Over time, the word "collapse" has taken on a broader range of meanings, including the idea of something failing or ceasing to function, whether that's a physical structure, a social system, or even a person's mental or emotional state. Despite its evolution, the word "collapse" still retains its core meaning of something suddenly and often dramatically failing or falling apart.