# collapse

> English word · Verb · IPA /kəˈlæps/ · frequency rank #5,309

## Definitions
1. To break apart and fall down suddenly; to cave in.
2. To cease to function due to a sudden breakdown; to fail suddenly and completely.
3. To fold compactly.
4. In a hierarchical list (such as a directory tree or table of contents), to hide the subentries of (an entry).
5. To suffer a batting collapse.
6. To cause something to collapse.
7. To pass out and fall to the floor or ground, as from exhaustion or other illness; to faint.

## Etymology
From Latin collāpsus (past participle of collābor).

## Easily confused with
- **collage** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/collage-vs-collapse)

## Common misspellings (10)
`ccollapse`, `clolapse`, `colalpse`, `colapse`, `collapes`, `collappse`, `collapsse`, `collaspe`, `collpase`, `ocllapse`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/collapse