collapse
verb [ I ]
uk/kəˈlæps/ usto suddenly fail or become unable to continue:
the system/economy/government, etc. collapses Without computers the whole economic system would collapse.
a company/bank/industry, etc. collapses The bank collapsed after an alleged massive fraud.
talks/negotiations collapse
FINANCE
to suddenly fall to a much lower level:
prices/shares collapse Share prices collapsed after news of poor trading.
Construction jobs were lost as the property market collapsed.
collapse
noun [ C or U ]
uk/kəˈlæps/ usthe sudden failure of a system, organization, business, etc.:
A poor economy has caused the collapse of thousands of small businesses.
on the brink/verge of collapse Negotiations between the two companies are on the brink of collapse
FINANCE
a sudden fall to a much lower level:
the collapse of the American real estate market
a price/market collapse Did options accelerate the oil price collapse?