1. collapse - Noun
2. collapse - Verb
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.
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.
A falling together suddenly, as of the sides of a hollow vessel.
A sudden and complete failure; an utter failure of any kind; a breakdown.
Extreme depression or sudden failing of all the vital powers, as the result of disease, injury, or nervous disturbance.
Source: Webster's dictionaryPerfection of planned layout is achieved only by institutions on the point of collapse. C. Northcote Parkinson
America cannot continue to lead the family of nations around the world if we suffer the collapse of the family here at home. Mitt Romney
The New Deal is plainly an attempt to achieve a working socialism and avert a social collapse in America; it is extraordinarily parallel to the successive 'policies' and 'Plans' of the Russian experiment. Americans shirk the word 'socialism', but what else can one call it? H. G. Wells
One rotten beam can make a whole house collapse. Russian Proverb
An ant hole may collapse an embankment. Japanese Proverb
When the teeth fall off, the nose is sure to collapse. Nigerian Proverb